Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Myanmar in the field of nuclear infrastructure assessment and enhancement, according to a news release of Rosatom.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of ‘Russian Energy Week’ in Moscow on 11 October.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Rosatom have planned to determine the current needs for the development of the nuclear infrastructure in Myanmar and draw up a work plan for priority areas important for implementation of the small nuclear power plant construction project in the country.

The Russian side said that the development of nuclear infrastructure will be carried out in accordance with the IAEA approaches and recommendations as well as Rosatom’s best practices.

The memorandum covers building up further Russian-Myanmar cooperation in the field of training and human resources development, enhancement of safety culture in the organizations, participating in the nuclear energy development program of Myanmar.

The Ministry of Science and Technology of Myanmar and Rosatom signed an MoU on 11 July for cooperation in training and skills development in the field of nuclear energy and shaping positive public opinion on nuclear energy in Myanmar.

A delegation from Rosatom visited Myanmar on 27 June this year to evaluate the initial outcomes of the collaborative efforts between the two nations in the realm of peaceful nuclear energy utilization and other associated high-tech domains.

After the Myanmar military coup in 2021, Russia has sold US$370 million-worth of military supplies including SU-30 fighter jets, MiG-29 fighter jets, Yak-130 combat capable aircraft, and military aircraft/helicopter spare parts to Myanmar.

According to the UN report, "Russia's continued post-coup transfers of arms to the Myanmar military has violated international humanitarian law." The Nikkei Asia reported on 5 June that Russia is suspected of buying back military supplies previously shipped to Myanmar and India.

The surveys found the records of Russian repurchases of parts for tanks and missiles that have been exported to Myanmar and India, and Russia may be reimporting the components to improve older weapons destined for use in Ukraine, relying on help from countries with which it has long-standing military ties, according to a Nikkei analysis of custom clearance data.