During a recent visit to Moscow, Myanmar’s Minister of Science and Technology, Myo Thein Kyaw, signed some memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev on cooperation in training and skills development in the field of nuclear energy and shaping positive public opinion on nuclear energy in Myanmar. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the Myanmar State Administration Council, Prime Minister, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Rosatom said "the parties stressed that the signing of the Memorandums lays a solid foundation for the development of further cooperation on practical projects".
The Myanmar government tsaid the talks had covered “cooperation in the sectors beneficial to peoples of both countries in atomic energy technological cooperation arena, conducting the science and research, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, livestock, industry and foodstuff sectors through the peaceful use of nuclear energy".
Russia and Myanmar had signed a preliminary nuclear co-operation agreement in 2015. This was based on a 2007 agreement to construct a nuclear research centre in Myanmar (previously known as Burma) including a 10 MWt light water reactor working on 20%-enriched U-235, an activation analysis laboratory, a medical isotope production laboratory, silicon doping system, nuclear waste treatment and burial facilities.
In the early 1960s, a site for a nuclear research reactor had been designated near the Hlaing Campus in Rangoon but the project was dropped. Interest was renewed in the 1990s and the Ministry of Science and Technology was established in 1997. Burma began negotiations with Russia on a research reactor project in 1999 and in 2021 asked IAEA for guidance. In anticipation, Myanmar established a Department of Atomic Energy in Yangon. In 2006, nuclear physics departments were established in the universities of Rangoon and Mandalay.
Image: Myanmar’s Ministry of Science & Technology and Rosatom have signed MOUs covering cooperation in training and skills development in the field of nuclear energy and shaping positive public opinion on nuclear energy in Myanmar (photo courtesy of Rosatom)
