16.04.2007 // Press service of Rosenergoatom

Rosenergoatom and Sevmash have started building first floating NPP in the world

Sevmash PA FSUE and Rosenergoatom have started building the first floating NPP in the world — «Academic Lomonosov». The base section of the plant was officially laid in the 50th workshop of Sevmash on Apr 15.

Attending the ceremony were First Vice Premier of Russia Sergey Ivanov, Head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko, Director General of Rosenergoatom Sergey Obozov, Director General of Sevmash Vladimir Pastukhov, Head of Administration of Arkhangelsk region Nikolay Kiselev, Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, Secretary of Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, academic Yevgeny Velikhov, representatives of the State Duma, Federation Council and the Government.

First Vice Premier Sergey Ivanov, Head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko and academic Yevgeny Velikhov fixed a memorable plaque on the body of the future plant.

The heads of Rosenergoatom and Sevmash Sergey Obozov and Vladimir Pastukhov signed a declaration on intention to build a series of floating NPPs, particularly, six plants in 2008–2016 (one plant a year). Starting from the third plant the period of construction will be reduced from four to three years.

 «I am sure that the period of construction can be reduced to 2–2.5 years,» Kiriyenko said.

For Sevmash this document is a guarantee of long-term work and active use of its production areas.

The declaration provides a basis for Rosenergoatom’s negotiations with potential consumers and guarantees the timely fulfillment of orders. Presently, working groups are negotiating the project with Chukotka Autonomous District, the Defense Ministry of Russia, Gazprom OJSC, a number of Asian and African states. The document also guarantees the interchangeability of units in the process of their operation.

First Vice Premier of Russia Sergey Ivanov pointed out the high technological and economical potential of the floating NPP. He said that this project can be effectively implemented in the North and the Far East of Russia and has proved quite attractive for many foreign countries: «Many countries are beginning to ask us: when could we buy that plant?»

The floating NPP has lots of technological advantages and this is a guarantee of its economic profitability. However, Rosatom is planning to further increase its capacity. «If today we are building low-capacity floating NPPs based on 70 MW ice-breaker reactors, tomorrow, we will start building medium-capacity plants based on unique technologies designed for nuclear submarines, i.e. 300–400 MW,» Kiriyenko said.

«This is a unique potential in both Russian and world power engineering. We have unique competitive advantages: no other country in the world had so many reactor/years and such a unique nuclear fleet as we did. Our experience is unique. Today many countries are seeking to build low- and medium-capacity reactors, but they are lagging behind us,» Kiriyenko said.

The first floating NPP is to be launched in 2010.

The participants in the ceremony also attended the launching of the strategic missile-carrying submarine «Yuri Dolgoruky,» built at Sevmash.