– Russia already has one floating nuclear power plant near the town of Pevek
– The Government of Primorsky Krai signed an agreement with Rosatom for feasibility study and location options for additional floating nuclear power units
– The region estimates a need for at least 1.35GW of power by 2029-30, with plans for four floating power units initially and larger nuclear power plants in the future
Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom and the Government of Primorsky Krai have signed an agreement for a feasibility study and location options for floating nuclear power units off the state’s coast. The region of Primorsky Krai, which borders China and North Korea, is facing an energy shortage and aims to produce reliable and carbon-free electricity for the area. The Unified Energy System operator estimates that the Far Eastern region of Russia will need at least 1.35GW of power by 2029–30.
Andrei Leontyev, Minister of Energy and Gas Supply of the Primorsky Territory, announced the need for four floating power units to address the energy shortage in the region. Rosatom sees small-scale nuclear power as a modern green solution for stable energy supply and plans to create a nuclear power plant with two 600MW units for the region’s development. The flexibility and scalability of floating power units provide a solution to cover the current needs of the region and support economic growth.
Rosatom currently operates one floating nuclear power plant, named Akademik Lomonosov, in the town of Pevek. This project, operational since December 2019, serves as a pilot for future floating nuclear power plants and onshore installations using Russian-made small modular reactors. The floating nuclear power plants are designed for deployment in various regions of Russia’s north and far-east to meet energy demands.