In addition to producing new generation reactors, Russia and the U.S. will work together on optimizing the nuclear fuel cycle.

In January 2010, the Russian government approved the federal target program designed to bring a new technology platform for the nuclear power industry based on fast reactors. Rosatom’s long-term strategy up to 2050 involves moving to inherently safe nuclear plants using fast reactors with a closed fuel cycle.

According to the head of Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko, Russia and the United States will consider the opportunity of joining efforts in constructing nuclear reactors of the next generation. Mr. Kiriyenko made the announcement following the meeting of the Russian-U.S. Presidential Commission’s Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security working group, emphasizing that the cooperation between the countries in the sphere of nuclear energy will become possible after the entry into force of an agreement on Peaceful Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation.  

If the demand for new light nuclear reactors grows rapidly, the U.S. and Russia may well unite the two countries’ knowhow to build the new type of nuclear power plants quicker. Cooperation on the project of building low-capacity modular reactors is likely to involve the creation of a joint venture enterprise. 

Russia is presently working on designing next-generation nuclear reactors, such as fast-neutron reactors, high-temperature reactors, and modular low-capacity reactors. It is specifically in the area of creating modular reactors that Russian-American collaboration could prove to be most useful. Low capacity reactors are in demand in a number of developing countries and regions.

The avenues of cooperation have already been laid out, and the countries can now proceed forward, as the Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement, also known as the “123 Agreement”, went through the required congressional procedure. The “123 Agreement” agreement was signed in the spring of 2008 and submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration. While President Bush recalled the agreement before leaving office, it was submitted for ratification again by Barack Obama in May of 2010. Since no opposition to the agreement arose within 90 days of congressional session, on December 9, 2010, the Agreement became fully binding. 

Nuclear cooperation between the United States and Russia will occur along three lines. In addition to producing new generation reactor, the countries will work together on optimizing the nuclear fuel cycle. Cooperation in that sector has already started with the construction of two reserves of enriched uranium that are monitored by the IAEA. Russia has completed building its reserve of enriched uranium in Angarsk on December 1, 2010. The United States is now involved in a similar project. The third avenue for cooperation lies in the area of providing nuclear energy to third countries.

Thus, plans for cooperation have already been created, and implementation can begin as soon as the regulatory framework is in place.  

According to U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman, the entry into force of the “123 Agreement” is extremely important for discussing the cooperation between Russia and the United States on enriching uranium. Cooperation plans that have been proposed earlier called for building in the U.S. a plant for uranium enrichment with Russia’s involvement.