21 Apr 2023 18:13

Rosatom obtains license to construct small NPP in Sakha Republic, commissioning planned for 2028

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - JSC Rosenergoatom Concern, the electric power division of Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation, has received a license from the Federal Environmental, Industrial, and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) in order to construct a low-capacity nuclear power plant in the Sakha Republic, or Yakutia, Rosatom said in a statement.

The company to date has conducted pre-design engineering surveys, and the design of the Sakha SNPP is ahead of schedule, while operations have begun on the creation of off-site infrastructure facilities and the construction of a temporary camp for employees, according to the statement.

"The volume of operations grows with each day. We plan to commission the world's first ground-based SNPP with the RITM-200N reactor plant in 2028," Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev was quoted as saying in the statement.

RITM-200 series reactors have been tested in the harsh conditions of the Arctic on the latest Russian icebreakers and meet all post-Fukushima safety requirements for modern NPP designs. The station is characterized by its compactness, modularity and reduced construction rates compared to large-capacity nuclear power plants, the report said.

Rosatom also noted that the growing global demand for low-capacity nuclear power plants is observable all over the world.

The presence of reference projects within the country allows Rosatom to conduct an active dialogue with foreign customers. Over the past year, bilateral agreements have been signed with partners from Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and others, the company said.