Rosatom’s Fuel Division (managed by TVEL JSC) and the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology signed a major agreement on September 25 during the World Atomic Week (WAW 2025) international forum. The accord formalizes TVEL’s entry into the international project, “Monitoring and Evaluation Techniques of Hydrologic Response during Excavation of the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory” (MonEH).
The document was signed by Eduard Nikitin, Director for Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management at TVEL, and Liang Chen, President of the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology.
The agreement provides access to the applied research program at the Beishan underground research laboratory through participation in the MonEH project team and facilitates the exchange of information on the comprehensive field testing program. Russian experts will now be able to participate in the full range of hydrogeological studies at the underground laboratory’s construction site.
For Russia, participating in the MonEH project is a significant step in addressing the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste in deep geological formations. Russia is currently developing its own underground research laboratory in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and its interest in the Beishan laboratory stems from the similarities between the two projects, both of which are sited in comparable geological formations.The Beishan laboratory, located in the Gobi Desert, will be used to verify the site’s suitability for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste. It will ultimately feature a spiral ramp, three vertical shafts, and horizontal galleries for waste disposal. Two platforms for testing nuclear technologies will be constructed at depths of 280 and 560 meters.
The nuclear back-end covers three main areas: the safe handling of radioactive waste, the management of spent nuclear fuel, and the decommissioning of end-of-life nuclear and radiologically hazardous facilities, followed by the remediation of contaminated land to return it to economic use.
The World Atomic Week International Forum, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry, is being held at Moscow VDNKh from 25 to 28 September 2025. The Forum organized by Rosatom, includes the exhibition of the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and its partners. The business program features thematic tracks such as: "Affordable Clean Energy", "Industrial Innovations: Improving Production", "Ecology: Making the Planet Cleaner", "Advanced Medicine: Protecting Human Health", "Digital Breakthrough", "Mobility: Logistics Without Borders", "Comfortable Environment", and "Science and Education: Driver of Progress". The youth program (from 27 to 28 September) includes the scientific and educational marathon "Knowledge. Pioneers” organized by the Russian society Znaniye within the framework of the national project "Youth and Children". The Forum also includes the II Youth Festival "Composites Without Borders".
