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Russia’s Baltic Shipyard to commission power unit for world’s first floating NPP in 2016

This is the Russian industry’s serious contribution to the Arctic region development

ST. PETERSBURG, December 7. /TASS/. A floating power unit, which the Baltic Shipyard in northwest Russia is building, should be commissioned in September 2016, Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin said at a forum on the Arctic development on Monday.

The power unit is designed for the world’s first floating nuclear power plant (NPP) Russia is building, the vice-premier said.

"A floating power unit is under construction: this is unique innovation technology, which has evoked the interest of many countries, including the states far away from the Arctic region," the vice-premier said.

"We should commission the 600 MW power unit in September next year," Rogozin said.

This is the Russian industry’s serious contribution to the Arctic region development, the vice-premier added.

The Project 20870 Academician Lomonosov floating power unit is a non-self-propelled vessel with two KLT-40 nuclear reactors on its board and is designed to provide electric power for Arctic areas and desalinate sea water.

The power unit is expected to operate for a period of up to 40 years, given that its reactors are regularly re-charged every 2.5-3 years.

The floating power unit will be operated by the vessel’s constant crew of several dozen people.

The Academician Lomonosov floating power unit, which the Baltic Shipyard is building, is expected to operate in the town of Pevek in the northeastern Chukotka Autonomous District.