Myanmar, Russia sign nuclear cooperation "roadmap"

The Myanmar military regime and Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom have signed a roadmap for further atomic energy cooperation including the possible implementation of a modular reactor project in Myanmar.

The agreement was signed on September 6, on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2022) in Vladivostok, The Irrawaddy website reports. 

Rosatom said the document was signed by Rosatom director general Alexey Likhachev, and the regime’s Science and Technology Minsiter Myo Thein Kyaw and Electric Power Minister Thaung Han in the presence of Min Aung Hlaing. 

The Russian atomic energy agency said the roadmap would guide cooperation in the field of “peaceful use of atomic energy” for 2022-23.

“In particular the document provides for the expanding of the bilateral legal framework, possibility of implementing a small modular reactors project in Myanmar, as well as personnel training and work related to the improvement of public acceptance of nuclear energy in Myanmar,” it said.

The regime’s mouthpiece newspapers on Wednesday said the countries would cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy for socioeconomic development; conducting scientific activities and research; manufacturing of pharmaceuticals; and industrial and other sectors including electricity generation.

Tuesday’s (September 6) agreement follows up on an MoU signed by Rosatom and the junta’s Science and Technology Minister Myo Thein Kyaw in Min Aung Hling’s presence during his previous trip to Russia in July “to lay a solid foundation for the development of further cooperation on practical projects”.

The Min Aung Hlaing regime’s further pursuit of a nuclear deal with Russia comes at a time when Myanmar is in social and political disarray due to his military coup against the country’s democratically elected National League for Democracy government led by now detained popular leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since the takeover, the junta has faced popular armed resistance against its rule and killed more than 2,000 people.