Russia plans to expand nuclear energy capacity to 25% by 2045

Russia plans to increase the share of nuclear energy in its national energy mix from approximately 20% to 25% by 2045. President Vladimir Putin announced the long-term strategy, which includes adding roughly 30 GW of new nuclear capacity, including small nuclear power plants. These facilities are intended to be located in the Ural Mountains, Siberia, and the Far East to provide clean and affordable electricity.

The expansion aims to meet rising electricity demands from heavy industry, the transport sector, and the digital economy, specifically targeting energy-intensive needs such as data centers, robotics, and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev noted that the current sector consists of 34 operational power units across 11 nuclear power plants. The industry's strategic goals through 2042 include replacing decommissioned capacities, transitioning to new technological energy systems, and increasing overall production capacity. Over the next decade, the industry expects to decommission 13 units, representing about one-third of the current fleet.