Russia - World Nuclear Outlook Report

Projection of future nuclear capacity in Russia in 2050

Russia has 36 operable reactors with a total net capacity of 26,802 MWe.¹⁴⁴ Seven reactors with a gross capacity of 5300 MWe are under construction.

Long-term operation

Most of Russia’s reactors have been upgraded for long-term operation beyond their initial design lifetimes, mostly with 15-year extensions initially.¹⁴⁵ Design operating lifetimes are around 30 years for most units – which is generally extended by another 30 years – and 60 years for the newer VVER-1200 reactors.

New capacity

In 2022, Russian government aimed at increasing nuclear energy’s contribution to the electricity supply to 25% by 2045 (from 19% in 2021). A plan to build 16 reactors by 2035 has been approved. These include both large and small reactors. The new units are:¹⁴⁶

1. Kursk II units 1-4 (VVER-1200)
2. Leningrad II units 3&4 (VVER-1200)
3. Smolensk II units 1&2 (VVER-1200)
4. Baimsky GOK: four floating nuclear units (RITM-200M)
5. Yakutia: one SMR (RITM-200N)
6. Seversk: BREST-OD-300 fast reactor
7. Kola II-1 (VVER-600)
8. Beloyarsk 5 (BN-1200 fast reactor)

Additionally, units are planned for Kola (2 units), Khabarovsk (2 units), Krasnoyarsk (4 units), Novocherkassk (2 units), Primorsk (2 units), Reftinskaya (one unit) and South Urals (2 units).

Construction commenced on: Kursk II units 1&2 in April 2018 and April 2019, respectively; the BREST-OD-300 in June 2021; two of the RITM-200M floating nuclear reactors in August 2022; and Leningrad II units 3&4 in March 2024 and March 2025, respectively.

In March 2025 Rosatom reported¹⁴⁷ that eight RITM-200 reactor pressure vessels were under construction at its ZIO-Podolsk plant, including vessels intended for floating nuclear power units.