In Russia, funding for geological exploration for uranium will be increased almost 7-fold in 2026 – from 900 million rubles to 6 billion rubles. Exploration activities are necessary to prepare sites for development, said Deputy Head of the Ministry of Natural Resources Dmitry Tetenkin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

The authorities are also discussing the launch of a specialized program "Uranium of Russia". President Vladimir Putin was briefed on it, and he approved this initiative, Tetenkin added.

Uranium is important for ensuring Russia's energy security, the development of nuclear energy and technologies, the Deputy Minister noted. That is why it is necessary to take into account the needs of the economy and anticipate its needs 10-15 years in advance, Tetenkin concluded.

Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated earlier that Russia ranks second in the world in uranium reserves after the state corporation acquired the Budenovskoye deposit in Kazakhstan in 2023. Raw materials for nuclear fuel production in the country are extracted in the Trans-Baikal Territory, the Republic of Buryatia, and the Kurgan Region.