Russia’s first floating nuclear power station has arrived in the far-east 17 days ahead of schedule where it will become the world’s northernmost nuclear plant.
The ‘Akademik Lomonosov’ floating nuclear plant, named after Russian academic Mikhail Lomonosov, arrived in the Arctic port town of Pevek in the far-eastern Russian region of Chukotka, separated from the US state of Alaska by the narrow Bering Strait.
Video credit: CEN/Rosatom
It is Russia’s first floating nuclear power station and has been slammed by Greenpeace as a “nuclear Titanic” and “Chernobyl on ice”.
The project, which first started in 2007, saw the nuclear vessel leaving Murmansk in the north-west of the vast country on 23rd August. It was reportedly constructed at the Baltic Shipyard in Saint Petersburg.
From there, the Akademik Lomonosov travelled to Murmansk where it was installed with nuclear fuel before continuing to Pevek in the far-east where it arrived 17 days ahead of schedule, according to reports.
According to the Russian nuclear power station operations subsidiary Rosenergoatom, the vessel covered a distance of 2,640 miles.
It is hoped that the floating power plant will provide energy to remote port towns, industrial complexes and oil and gas platforms at sea in the far-eastern region.
The Akademik Lomonosov, which will become the world’s northernmost nuclear power plant, is reportedly 144 metres (472 feet) long with a width of 30 metres (98 feet).
It has a designated lifespan of 40 years and can accommodate 69 members of staff.
According to reports, it is planned to be operational by December.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Amelia Guran, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
