Russia to launch closed fuel cycle nuclear system by 2030

Russia plans to commission by 2030 the first nuclear power system based on a closed fuel cycle, President Vladimir Putin has announced. The system will allow spent fuel to be reused several times, reducing uranium demand.

Putin made the statement at the World Atomic Week forum in Moscow. He said the project will be developed in the Tomsk Region.

A closed fuel cycle involves reprocessing used reactor fuel to recover materials that can be used again. Unlike the open cycle, which disposes of most spent fuel after one use, this process creates a loop that sustains itself.

The system has three main benefits. It reduces the volume of radioactive waste that requires long-term storage. It lowers the need for uranium mining by extending fuel use. It also increases the overall efficiency of nuclear power generation.

Putin described the initiative as the result of work by Russian scientists and engineers. He said it represents a step toward advancing nuclear energy technology and expanding international scientific cooperation.