IAEA Hosted Small Modular Reactor School in Russia
The program provided international delegates with hands-on technical experience regarding floating nuclear power.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Nuclear
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The International Atomic Energy Agency held an educational program in Murmansk, Russia, to train officials on small modular reactor technologies. The school featured 22 participants from 13 member states who examined existing operational infrastructure.
Why it matters
The program aims to provide decision-makers with practical experience in small modular reactor operation to support future energy policy planning. It allows officials to gain direct insight into existing deployments, which currently exist only in Russia and China.
The school involved 22 participants from 13 IAEA member states studying existing small modular reactors. These technologies are currently limited to operational status in only two nations: the Russian Federation and China.
The players
International Atomic Energy Agency
This is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose.
Akademik Lomonosov
This is a non-self-propelled power barge that serves as the world's first operational floating nuclear power plant.
The details
The curriculum combined classroom instruction with technical visits to the Atomflot fleet base and the Lenin nuclear-powered icebreaker. Participants engaged with Russian designers and regulators to understand the logistical and safety framework behind the Akademik Lomonosov floating plant.
Timeline
The Akademik Lomonosov began supplying heat and power to Pevek in 2020.
The IAEA hosted a previous SMR school at Argonne National Laboratory in June 2026.
The Murmansk SMR school took place in October 2026.
Deeper Dive
The IAEA SMR school program allows for hands-on evaluation of emerging nuclear power technologies, which follows a pattern established by the agency's efforts to standardize international nuclear energy safety protocols. This event continues the agency's established pattern of holding specialized schools to facilitate knowledge transfer among member states.
Increased training for international officials on small modular reactors could accelerate the global deployment of these compact, transportable power sources. Such advancements aim to provide localized, consistent energy to remote regions similar to the service currently provided in Pevek.
The takeaway
Small modular reactors represent a specialized but growing segment of the global energy landscape that requires specific regulatory oversight. Officials attending these schools gain essential context for deciding whether to integrate such portable power plants into their national grids.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in international atomic energy standards by visiting the /science/nuclear/ section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nuclear Engineering International.
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