Russia to launch world’s first nuclear power system with closed fuel cycle

Moscow, Sep 27,2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin today said the country will launch in the Tomsk Region, the world’s first nuclear power system with a closed fuel cycle wherein 95 percent of the spent fuel will be reused in the reactors more than once.
Speaking at the Global Atomic Forum here yesterday evening Putin said, “As per OECD estimates, all uranium resources under an optimistic scenario will be fully depleted by 2090, which is about eight million tons. In practice the depletion may even happen as early as the 2060s.”
The forum is being held as part of World Atomic Week, which marks the 80th anniversary of Russia’s nuclear industry and is themed “From a New Technological Paradigm to a New Worldview.”
“Given that a quarter of uranium reserves are found in deposits where uranium is a by-product, by 2030 – here I come to what I believe Russia can truly be proud of – we plan to launch in the Tomsk Region the world’s first nuclear power system with a closed fuel cycle,” Putin said.
Terming it as a revolutionary development made possible by Russian scientists and engineers, Putin said by closing the nuclear fuel cycle, almost the entire volume, that is, 95 percent of spent fuel will be reused in reactors more than once.
“This mechanism will, in the long term, make it possible to virtually eliminate the problem of radioactive waste accumulation and, which is also extremely important, essentially remove the issue of uranium supply,” Putin added.
According to him, the full range of advanced materials for the closed fuel cycle will be tested at the International Research Centre now being established in the Ulyanovsk Region.
“We invite scientists from different countries to cooperate in developing technologies that, without exaggeration, open a new era in nuclear energy,” Putin said.
On the funding of new nuclear power plants, he said, “There is a need to develop modern financing models and involve international financial institutions and development banks.”
Putin said, “Earlier this year, the New Development Bank established by the BRICS countries confirmed its readiness to finance nuclear projects, while at the end of last year, on Russia’s initiative, a BRICS coordination mechanism – the Nuclear Energy Platform – was established.”
He said Russia’s principled approach ensures its leadership in this field.
“First, we strictly honour our contractual obligations. I want to emphasise this. We fulfill all our obligations entirely regardless of political circumstances,” he said.
“Second, we reject “technological colonialism” and do not make our partners dependent on Russian technical solutions. On the contrary, we help them establish their own sovereign national nuclear industries, including personnel training and the creation of competence centres. We enlist local companies, assist in the operation of power units, and ensure the supply of nuclear fuel and waste management,” Putin said.
Continuing further Putin said, Russia shares its experience and knowledge in building other advanced industries of the 21st century, such as nuclear medicine, digital systems, electric transport and innovative materials.
“As a result, we help our partners make a genuine development leap, bring their economies to a whole new level of efficiency, and ultimately improve quality of life,” Putin said.
Russia views peaceful nuclear technologies as the foundation for extensive international cooperation and for fostering closer ties among nations. Russia is keen on establishing stable, long-term conditions for projects within the nuclear sphere, Putin said.