Russia's Rosatom has signed a fresh memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with Kyrgyzstan, on non-energy application of nuclear technologies in healthcare, and updated the country on "progress of the development of a project for the construction" of a small modular reactor (SMR). 

(Image: Rosatom)

Talks between Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Zhaparov, took place during the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. According to Rosatom, "the whole range of issues of bilateral cooperation was considered, including the reclamation of uranium tailings, low-power nuclear power plants and nuclear medicine".

The MoC covers plans "to jointly develop high-tech medical projects in Kyrgyzstan. In particular, we are talking about the creation of a radiopharmaceutical pharmacy and a molecular imaging centre on the basis of the National Centre for Oncology and Haematology, where advanced methods for diagnosing and treating oncological and other diseases will be applied".

The Kyrgyz government said it "noted the need to continue the work aimed at comprehensively solving problems related to waste storage facilities" and the two sides expressed "satisfaction the progress in the implementation of the priority project of bilateral cooperation",the "Reclamation of Former Uranium Mining Facilities".

On the development of an SMR project in Kyrgyzstan - for which a pre-study is expected to be completed this year - "it was agreed to continue consultations in this area".

Electricity generation in Kyrgyzstan is mainly from hydro (over 90%). The country has no nuclear power but has a history of uranium mining, although no uranium mining is carried out there today. In January 2022, the country signed a memorandum of cooperation with Rosatom on the construction of small nuclear power plants based on the RITM-200N and in November the terms of reference were agreed for a preliminary study.

Likhachev said: "We are pleased to have the opportunity, together with Kyrgyz partners, to develop innovative technologies that will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of people in our countries."

Researched and written by World Nuclear News