A roundtable discussion entitled “International
Ecosystem: Integration into the Green Future” was held on September 26 on the
sidelines of the World Atomic Week (WAW 2025) international forum. It looked at
the opportunities for cooperation in the field of environmental safety and the
implementation of environmental projects.
Representatives of Russian and foreign companies, government agencies and scientific institutes from Russia, Belarus, Vietnam, China, Cuba and other countries attended the event.
They examined the progress of environmental projects as well as prospects for combining the efforts of states to ensure environmental well-being and the conservation of natural resources.
“In addition to green energy, which is our main mission, we have strong expertise and successful experience in creating other environmentally friendly and cost-effective production facilities based on a closed-loop approach,” said Andrey Nikipelov, Deputy Director General for Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Solutions at Rosatom State Corporation, welcoming the participants to the discussion.
He cited examples of projects and technologies for closing
the nuclear fuel cycle, and briefly spoke about the creation of a system in
Russia for handling hazardous industrial waste, based on the same logic of
resource reuse.
A special place in Rosatom’s extensive scientific and industrial activities is occupied by environmental projects aimed at eliminating the legacy accumulated over many years and creating conditions for a closed-loop economy by involving production waste in multiple industrial cycles.
“Formulating a policy for managing secondary resources is a crucial task for any nation. The principles of the circular economy and bio-economy, combined with the development of nature-based technologies, serve as strategic tools for the effective and safe use of both natural and man-made resources. These tools are especially relevant in the context of cleaning up legacy environmental damage and establishing a system for handling Class I and II hazardous waste. Rosatom is systematically working to build closed-loop production cycles that affect various sectors of the Russian economy,” said Andrey Lebedev, Rosatom’s Director for the Implementation of National and Sectoral Environmental Programs.
The green agenda is a key priority for the long-term development of countries, regardless of their geography or socio-economic situation. For instance, the concept adopted by the Commonwealth of Independent States for managing hazardous industrial waste and restoring contaminated areas has laid the foundation for international cooperation. This cooperation is based on taking a responsible look at the past and minimizing environmental risks for the benefit of future generations. The Republic of Belarus is one of Russia's strategic partners in nuclear technologies, hazardous waste management and land remediation.
“An important initiative we are implementing with Rosatom State Corporation is a joint project of the Union State to develop a comprehensive solution for eliminating burial sites of obsolete pesticides. A key component of this project will be the testing of a new facility designed to neutralize hazardous waste at the Gorodok burial site in Belarus. Developing comprehensive technological solutions to eliminate these obsolete pesticide sites as part of the Union State project will reduce the risks that persistent organic pollutants pose to the environment and the health of our citizens,” said Sergey Maslyak, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus.
