China and Russia Plan to Build Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon by 2036

China and Russia have announced a joint initiative to construct a nuclear power station on the Moon by the year 2036, marking a major milestone in space collaboration and lunar colonization efforts.

The project will be part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a long-term cooperative venture between the two countries aimed at establishing a permanent scientific base on the Moon. According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, the nuclear facility will be used to provide stable energy for lunar operations, including communications, life support systems, and scientific experiments.

Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, stated at a recent event in Moscow that “the plan is to land a reactor module on the Moon by 2035 and complete the setup by 2036.” He emphasized that nuclear energy is the only viable option for continuous power supply in the harsh lunar environment, especially during the two-week-long lunar night.

China’s National Space Administration (CNSA) has not yet publicly confirmed the technical details, but it is expected that both nations will contribute engineering, launch capabilities, and robotic deployment systems to the project.

The move signals a deepening strategic partnership in space between Beijing and Moscow, and comes at a time of renewed international competition over lunar exploration. Both nations have invited other countries and organizations to join the ILRS framework, presenting it as an open alternative to NASA’s Artemis program.

The report was first published by The Sun, citing official Russian sources.