BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The first expert session within the framework of the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform (NEP) has just been held in China. Leading experts discussed the best practices for implementing modern solutions in the energy sector.
The BRICS NEP was created in October of 2024 and is intended to share experience and support for the development of nuclear technologies among BRICS member countries. One of the platform’s goals is to help companies with persuading their governments to see nuclear power as a clean energy source, and also share assistance for dealing with other issues which may be impeding nuclear energy projects.
Held on the sidelines of the 16th China International Exhibition on Nuclear Power Industry in Beijing on the 27th of April, the first expert session was held within the framework of the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform.
The theme of the event was ‘Key factors influencing the development of nuclear energy’. It was organized with the support of Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation. The event brought together representatives of government agencies and specialized organizations of the BRICS countries and partner countries of the association, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Energy Center and World Nuclear Association.
The discussions focused on new approaches to the efficient distribution of nuclear power resources, current industry trends and prospects for cooperation between participating countries for balanced global development and energy security.
The opening speech was given by the Platform’s Chief Coordinator Elsie Pule of South Africa and Celso Cunha, president of the Brazilian Association for the Development of the Nuclear Industry. Rosatom said that for representatives of countries new to the nuclear power industry, the session “became an opportunity to adopt best practices in the energy and non-energy application of nuclear developments to address environmental and social challenges facing society”.
Chen Xin is deputy director of the Uranium Resources Department of China’s State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company. He said, “Young specialists in the nuclear industry need the help of experienced experts from countries with advanced technologies. The session provided an opportunity for representatives of nuclear organizations of the BRICS countries to establish interaction for the implementation of joint projects.”
Artem Goncharuk is the director general of Rosatom East Asia. He added, “The session once again confirmed the existence of a large and as yet untapped potential for joint work between BRICS organizations and partners. We will continue to move forward and will ‘take a step, leaving a mark’. Work on preparations for the next expert session has already begun.”
During 2025, the Platform plans to hold special expert-level events at major nuclear industry venues. The next Platform session is due to be held on the 21st of May on the sidelines of the Nuclear Trade & Technology Exchange conference and exhibition in Brazil.
More than twenty other countries are expressing an interest in joining the organization which is widely seen as a counterbalance to the G7 grouping of industrialized nations.
BRICS member countries currently have about three hundred and ninety gigawatts of operable nuclear power units with a further sixty megawatts under construction.