Nikolai Kuzelev, expert of the nuclear section of the State Duma of the Russian Federation:

 — I think that FNTPP may occupy a stable position in small and medium scale power generation. They’ll let us reach the regions that are just developing.

Baltic Plant OJSC being a part of Consolidated Industrial Corporation (CIC) has launched the first power unit of the future floating nuclear thermal power plant (FNTPP). The floating power unit «Academician Lomonosov» is launched half year before the set time.

Nikolai Kuzelev, expert of the nuclear section of the State Duma of the Russian Federation:

There is nothing in the world, I mean in terms of function, like a floating nuclear thermal plant (FNTPP) for usual conditions. For other purposes – there is but not such ones. I should say that this is a breakthrough because this project had been developed for a long time. And now they have proceeded to action. That day in the morning I watched the news and saw that this power unit had been launched at last. But it’s the first portent in this sphere of power industry.

The purpose of the FNTPP is partial solution of the problem concerning delivery of expensive raw hydrocarbons to hard-to-reach areas. It affords opportunity of stoppage of deliveries and wireless supply of power to aforementioned regions. I mean not only our Far North but also the south, for example, RSA. It is no coincidence that Sergey Kirienko not long ago signed an agreement with a coastal African country. I think there will be demand for FNTPP in America, in South America and Indonesia. And take a look at the developed but poorly powered region of New Zealand. Island areas are potential consumers of FNTPP the capacity of which is quite enough for them. Hong Kong and Singapore with their high technologies also lack energy. They have such meteorological conditions that make submarine cable laying too expensive. Besides, FNTPP may be useful for island states due to its desalination capabilities since floating nuclear power plants can be the basis for establishment of a desalination plant.

FNTPP can be used to supply power for gas production in our hard-to-reach and horizonless Russian areas, for example, the Shostkinsk field. The plant itself is safe and reliable. It’s not quite usual power unit but the requirements for it are quite similar to those for a regular civil power unit – here we have another radiation environment and, above all, reliability conditions. From this perspective we know how dangerous oil and gas production may be. Indeed, usually we have to drag diesel installations, cables, construct power transmission lines. After all, we bore using energy to produce an energy carries required for this purpose. Consume energy to produce it.

I think that FNTPP may occupy a stable position in small and medium scale power generation. They’ll let us reach the regions that are just developing. The launched power unit is non-powered – it was delivered, positioned, it started operation. But who said that it couldn’t be towed further if necessary?! Our icebreakers are quite capable of doing it. It’s just a technical question.

FNTPP capacity, if I’m not mistaken, can vary from 40 to 300 mW. There are a lot of regions where they’ll be in demand. But consumption differs depending on size, population and the level of consumption. In other words, we need a line of such units. Today we’ve taken a very important step – we’ve constructed the plant showing that it is possible. This is a commercial version that requires further development. The consumer needs capacity choice – it must be essential for such direction since it’s vital for it. Personnel affairs in the sphere of FNTPP development also require consideration. Otherwise it’ll be extremely difficult or just impossible to proceed.