An international conference entitled “Final Disposal of Nuclear Waste: A Key Element of Nuclear Safety and Sustainable Development of Nuclear Energy” was held in Kurchatov, Republic of Kazakhstan, on July 21–23, 2026.
The conference brought together representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the CIS Executive Committee and the JSC TVEL (Fuel Company of Rosatom), the CIS basic organization for spent nuclear fuel management and decommissioning of nuclear and radiation-hazardous facilities.
The conference participants discussed the results of the basic organization’s activities over the past five years. They were informed about the CIS Economic Council's approval of the Main Areas of Cooperation among the CIS Member States in Nuclear Waste Management, Spent Nuclear Fuel and Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities for the period until 2030 (in Russian) developed by the JSC TVEL, and about the adoption of the Model Law Radioactive Waste Management.
Particular attention during the conference was paid to nuclear legacy sites. The participants were presented with the information on the development of the draft Concept for Cooperation among the CIS Member States in Eliminating Radiation and Environmental Threats Associated with Nuclear Legacy Sites, which provides for the establishment of a register of such sites, their prioritization, and the development of mechanisms to reduce their environmental impact.
A key outcome of the conference was the establishment of the Regional Council of Competence on Nuclear Waste Management at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Regional Council is intended to develop coordinated approaches among the CIS member states to nuclear waste management and to promote the establishment of sustainable national waste management systems and the remediation of nuclear legacy sites.
Interstate cooperation in this area will contribute to strengthening nuclear and radiation safety across the Commonwealth.