Russia and Laos have moved forward in expanding their energy partnership with the signing of a nuclear cooperation agreement focused on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The framework intergovernmental agreement was signed in Moscow on 15th June 2026 during an official visit by a Lao delegation to Russia. The ceremony took place in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.
Formal signatures on the document were provided by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith. The nuclear cooperation agreement establishes a basis for discussions regarding a potential Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Laos and creates a legal structure for future collaboration between the two countries in the nuclear sector.
The agreement provides the foundation for broader bilateral engagement in nuclear energy and enables both countries to begin assessing the viability of a nuclear energy project in Laos. As part of the first phase under the nuclear cooperation agreement, the parties intend to carry out a preliminary feasibility study examining how nuclear energy could be integrated into the Lao power system. The assessment will focus on determining the most suitable project configuration while also identifying possible locations for a future nuclear power plant. Results from the study are expected to support decision-making by the Lao government as it considers whether to advance a national nuclear energy program.
Rosatom stated that it has technologies for both floating and land-based small modular nuclear power plants and continues to strengthen energy cooperation across Southeast Asia. The nuclear cooperation agreement with Laos comes after several other nuclear energy arrangements involving Russia in the region. In March 2025, Russia and Myanmar signed an agreement covering the construction of a small modular nuclear power plant in Myanmar based on Russia’s RITM reactor technology.
On 23rd March 2026, Russia and Vietnam signed an intergovernmental agreement in Moscow for the construction of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant, Ninh Thuan 1, using Russia’s Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor technology. Rosatom said such projects could support industrial development, create jobs, strengthen workforce training, and improve long-term energy security in Southeast Asia.
