Rosatom to build SMR project

• 3 years ago (2020-12-28)
• David Flin

Asia 847 Nuclear 639

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Rosatom , Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company, has signed an agreement to construct a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in the Russian republic of Sakha. The agreement outlines “electric power tariff principle” for an SMR power plant with RITM-200 reactors in Ust-Kuyga, Ust-Yansky District, to supply electricity to remote communities in the Arctic. The agreement confirms the off-take of up to 50 MW from the plant and Rosatom’s “readiness to assist in siting the SMR”.

The plant will also supply power for the Kyuchus gold deposit development project in the north of Verkhoyansky District, Yakutia. Rosatom said that the power plant is scheduled for completion by 2028.

Officials in the Ust-Yansky District have said that they expect the new plant to nearly halve the costs of electric power in the district compared to current prices.

The RITM-200 reactors are based upon Rosatom’s experience with icebreakers, with the new generation Arkitka icebreaker which joined the Russian fleet in October 2020 using RITM-series reactor.

Rosatom said that the RITM-200 reactors feature compact design, modularity, quick construction, high safety standards, and have a service life of over 60 years. It also said that the reactor can be used to generate green hydrogen.

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, said: “We are making an important step in constructing the first, new generation land-based SMR power plant in Russia. Implementation of this project will strengthen Rosatom’s position in the global SMR market. An important aspect of our foreign practices is that Rosatom always follows the principle: first we build in our own country and only then offer technology to the market.”