International
16 June 2026 9:47 AM• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Laos and Russia Sign Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement
PHNOM PENH, June 16, 2026 – Russia and Laos have signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, paving the way for the construction of a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Laos.
The signing ceremony took place on June 15 at the Government House of the Russian Federation in Moscow . The agreement was signed by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Lao Minister of Industry and Trade Malaithong Kommasith, in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries, Mikhail Mishustin and Sonexay Siphandone.
According to Rosatom's press service, the agreement serves as a fundamental framework for establishing comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the nuclear sector . Its signing allows both parties to begin work on a project for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Laos.
As a first step, a preliminary feasibility study will be conducted to integrate the future nuclear power plant into the country's energy system . The study will determine the project configuration and potential regions for the plant's location, enabling Laos to make an informed decision on its nuclear energy development program .
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev noted that Laos' interest in nuclear energy has grown significantly since mid-2025 . He added that the most attractive option for Laos is the deployment of small land-based nuclear power using RITM-200 reactors, which could be implemented by the 2030s .
Likhachev also revealed that Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, during a visit to Moscow on May 9, spent two hours at the Rosatom museum studying nuclear industry history and modern technologies . "This was not just a courtesy visit. It was a very deep study of the proposal," Likhachev said .
— Sources:
TASS
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The signing ceremony took place on June 15 at the Government House of the Russian Federation in Moscow . The agreement was signed by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Lao Minister of Industry and Trade Malaithong Kommasith, in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries, Mikhail Mishustin and Sonexay Siphandone.
According to Rosatom's press service, the agreement serves as a fundamental framework for establishing comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the nuclear sector . Its signing allows both parties to begin work on a project for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Laos.
As a first step, a preliminary feasibility study will be conducted to integrate the future nuclear power plant into the country's energy system . The study will determine the project configuration and potential regions for the plant's location, enabling Laos to make an informed decision on its nuclear energy development program .
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev noted that Laos' interest in nuclear energy has grown significantly since mid-2025 . He added that the most attractive option for Laos is the deployment of small land-based nuclear power using RITM-200 reactors, which could be implemented by the 2030s .
Likhachev also revealed that Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, during a visit to Moscow on May 9, spent two hours at the Rosatom museum studying nuclear industry history and modern technologies . "This was not just a courtesy visit. It was a very deep study of the proposal," Likhachev said .
— Sources:
TASS
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network