Russia’s First Sea-Borne Nuclear Power Plant Arrives to Its Base

Russia's floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov and tugboat Dixon before the departure from the service base of Rosatomflot company for a journey along the Northern Sea Route to Chukotka in Murmansk, Russia, on Aug. 23, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

MOSCOW—Russia’s first-floating nuclear power plant has arrived to its permanent base near an isolated Russian town across the Bering Strait from Alaska, Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Sept. 14.

Developed by Rosatom, the plant, known as “Akademik Lomonosov,” set off on a 5,000 km (3,100 mile) journey on Aug. 23 through Arctic waters to reach the Chukotka region.

Rosatom said it aims to make the floating station operational by the year-end. It would become the world’s northernmost nuclear power station.

The plant will replace a coal-fired power plant and an aging nuclear power plant supplying more than 50,000 people with electricity in Chukotka.

General Director of Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom Alexei Likhachev (C) speaks with General Director of Rosatomflot Mustafa Kashka as they attend a farewell ceremony before the floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov leaves the service base for a journey along the Northern Sea Route to Chukotka from Murmansk, Russia, on Aug. 23, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/File Photo/Reuters)

Rosatom has long planned to launch the sea-borne power units, which, with their mobile, small capacity plants, are best suited to remote regions. It has said they can help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

The small plants were designed to make it possible to supply electricity to hard-to-reach areas of Russia. They can operate non-stop without the need for refueling for 3-5 years.

Environmental protection groups, including Greenpeace, have expressed their concerns over potential safety issues.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Louise Heavens