Rosatom is offering potential buyers of floating NPPs (FNPPs) a turnkey concept whereby customers need not become involved in their construction and operation. Rosatom Deputy General Director for Mechanical Engineering & Industrial Solutions, Andrey Nikipelov, provided details at the XIII International Forum “Arctic: Present and Future” in St Petersburg.

“The concept assumes that we do not sell power units as something separate. We sell the electricity that is generated using the floating units. For the customer, this means that it does not matter where and how the unit is built. The customer does not take part in its construction. The construction, fuel loading and subsequent operation of the station is provided by Rosatom,” Nikipelov said.

The unit would be transported to its installation site, where it would be used for as long as the fuel campaign allows. Depending on capacity and siting this is from five to 10 years. After this, the unit would return to the Russian shipyard for refuelling and necessary mid-term repairs. During this time, a back-up floating unit would be installed for the customer, and the supply of electricity and/or heat would be uninterrupted.

“The reactor cover is never opened at the site of operation, which means there is no need for any infrastructure related to ensuring the reloading of nuclear fuel,” Nikipelov emphasised.

The forum was organised by the interregional "Association of Polar Explorers" with the support and participation of the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant ministries and departments. The general partner of the forum was PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel and the official sponsor was VTB Bank. 

Rosatom already has one FNPP operating at Pevek in Chukotka with others under construction, the Akademik Lomonosov which began providing power and heat in 2020. Four more will soon be added to supply power to the Baimsky Mining & Processing Plant.

Image: Rosatom Deputy General Director for Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Solutions, Andrei Nikipelov (courtesy of Rosatom)