Russia’s Aging Nuclear Fleet Faces Funding Gaps and Decommissioning Risks
Russia’s aging nuclear reactors require costly shutdowns, with Rosenergoatom estimating a €18.7 billion funding gap and total decommissioning costs near €21 billion.
Across the former USSR, many nuclear reactors have surpassed half a century of operation, and Russia plans to retire 35 of them through its Rosenergoatom unit. Internal calculations reveal a funding deficit of roughly €18.7 billion, while the total cost of safely dismantling the plants is projected at about €21 billion, a figure that could rise as it has elsewhere, such as Germany’s Lubmin site. Instead of immediate demolition, Russia typically stores decommissioned reactors for extended periods, shifting financial and technical burdens into the future.
The country already manages about 774,000 cubic metres of legacy radioactive waste, and the next wave of closures could generate an additional 800,000 cubic metres. Environmental NGOs, including Bellona Foundation, warn that by the late 2030s Rosatom’s decommissioning obligations may outstrip its net profit, raising safety and ecological concerns. The article also notes that Russia continues to export nuclear projects to nations like Turkiye and Bangladesh while domestic oversight and environmental regulation have weakened amid a war-focused economy.
Why it matters
Unfunded nuclear decommissioning in Russia could trigger environmental disasters and heighten geopolitical tensions.
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