IDADI YA WATU WALIOSOMA HABARI HII: Na Mwandishi wetu

Russia to install 4 floating nuclear plants in northeast Siberia

12:32

YAKUTSK, March 11 (RIA Novosti) - Four floating nuclear power plants will be installed in the northeastern Siberian republic of Yakutia under an agreement between the Federal Nuclear Power Agency and the local administration, local authorities said on Wednesday.

"The implementation of this project will make it possible to considerably reduce outlays on the delivery of fuel for the existing energy supply system, and raise the quality and reliability of energy provision, taking into account industrial development in northern Yakutia," the republic's presidential administration said.

The floating nuclear plants to be installed in four districts of Yakutia are intended to be put into service in 2013-2015, the administration said.

Investment in the project at the current stage is estimated at over 30 billion rubles ($838 million). Options are also being considered to involve private investors, the administration said.

First floating nuclear power plant to come into service in 2011

20:46 | 27/ 09/ 2007

MOSCOW, September 27 (RIA Novosti) - The world's first floating nuclear power plant will be commissioned in 2011 in Russia's Arctic, the governor of the Arkhangelsk Region said Thursday.

"The construction of the first such power unit with 70 MW capacity was started this year, and should be completed by 2010. The plant is most likely to operate in Severodvinsk [in Russia's Arkhangelsk Region]. Its launch is planned for 2011," Nikolai Kiselyov said.

"A floating NPP is a new product on the global market, and I hope it will be in demand," he said.

Russia started building the plant at the Arctic port of Severodvinsk in April, and is expected to build another six NPPs of its kind within a decade.

Earlier a Russian nuclear official said over 20 countries were interested in buying Russia's floating nuclear power plants. The NPPs are expected to be widely used in remote regions with power shortfalls, and also in the implementation of projects requiring stand-alone and uninterrupted electricity supplies in the absence of a developed power grid.

The second floating NPP could be built near the Russky Island in the Primorye Territory in Russia's Far East in 2011. The region may host an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in August 2012. If Vladivostok does not host the summit, the NPP could be placed in Peveka, in the remote northeastern Chukotka Autonomous Area.

The first floating nuclear power plant will have capacity of 70 MW of electricity, and about 300 MW of thermal power.

The cost of the first plant is estimated at 10 billion rubles ($400 million), but could later be reduced to 6 billion rubles ($240 million).