Russia launches construction of first floating nuclear power plants

Moscow, Apr 15 (UNI) Russia today launched construction of first floating nuclear power plants, the head of Russia's nuclear power agency, Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko said.

''Today we are signing an agreement on the construction of six energy units of floating nuclear power plants. The demand for them exists not only in Russia but also in the Asia-Pacific region where they can be used for water desalination,'' Kiriyenko said while participating in the ceremony of laying the foundation for the first floating nuclear power plant in Russia's northern city of Severodvinsk.

Kiriyenko told RIA Novosti news agency that the first floating nuclear power plant, to be named after the great Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, will have a capacity of 70 MW of electricity and about 300 MW of thermal power.

Floating nuclear power plants can operate without fuel reload for 12-15 years and have enhanced radiation protection.

They are expected to be widely used in regions that experience a shortage of energy and also in the implementation of projects requiring standalone and uninterrupted energy supply in the absence of a development power system.

UNI