First BRICS expert session on nuclear energy held in China

Thursday, 1 May 2025

The BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform was created in October 2024 and is intended to share experience and support the development of nuclear technologies among BRICS+ member countries. One of the platform's aims is to help companies, if required, with persuading their governments to see nuclear as a clean energy source, and also share assistance for dealing with other issues which may be hampering nuclear energy projects.

Held on the sidelines of the 16th China International Exhibition on Nuclear Power Industry in Beijing on 27 April, the first expert session was held within the framework of the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform.

The event - with the theme 'Key factors influencing the development of nuclear energy' - was organised with the support of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom. It brought together representatives of government agencies and specialised organisations of the BRICS countries and partner countries of the association, including China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Iran and others, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Energy Center and World Nuclear Association.

The discussion focused on new approaches to the efficient distribution of nuclear energy resources, current industry trends and prospects for cooperation between participating countries for balanced global development and energy security.

The welcoming speech was given by the Platform's Chief Coordinator Elsie Pule of South Africa and Celso Cunha, president of the Brazilian Association for the Development of the Nuclear Industry. Rosatom said that for representatives of countries new to the nuclear industry, the session "became an opportunity to adopt best practices in the energy and non-energy application of nuclear developments to address environmental and social challenges facing society".

"Young specialists in the nuclear industry need the help of experienced experts from countries with advanced technologies," said Chen Xin, deputy director of the Uranium Resources Department of China's State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company. "The session provided an opportunity for representatives of nuclear organisations of the BRICS countries to establish interaction for the implementation of joint projects."

Artem Goncharuk, director general of Rosatom East Asia, added: "The session once again confirmed the existence of a large and as yet untapped potential for joint work between BRICS organisations and partners. We will continue to move forward and will 'take a step, leaving a mark'. Work on preparations for the next expert session has already begun."

During 2025, the Platform plans to hold special expert-level events at major industry venues. The next session is due to be held on 21 May on the sidelines of the Nuclear Trade & Technology Exchange conference and exhibition in Brazil.

The intergovernmental BRICS organisation's members are currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, with more than 20 other countries also expressing an interest in joining the organisation which is widely seen as a counterbalance to the G7 grouping of industrialised nations.

BRICS member countries currently have about 390 GWe of operable nuclear power units with a further 66 MWe under construction.