Russia has left a floating nuclear power plant off stack to supply energy to outpost in Arctic. The ship Akademik Lomonosov left shipyard in St. Petersburg on Saturday. In coming weeks it will drive over Baltic Sea and Norwegian Sea to Russian naval port of Murmansk. It is only re that two reactors of power plant are to be equipped with nuclear fuel, said Pavel Ipatow of power plant operator Rosenergoatom. The ship is unique in world.
The route of "Akademik Lomonosov" time onlineThe ship is scheduled to travel from Murmansk to Arctic sea in summer of 2019, providing electricity and heat to Russian outposts and desalination sea water. The power plant can supply about 200,000 people with electricity. The port of destination is Pewek in Siberia.
The environmental protection organization Greenpeace criticized launching in a press release. "Nuclear reactors that are being sailed around Arctic Ocean are at great risk for a very fragile and climate-threatening environment."
Russia wants to secure rich deposits of oil and gas, which are suspected in region around North Pole. In addition, climate-induced melting of ice releases new shipping routes in far north of Russia. Therefore, Moscow is increasingly strengning its presence in region militarily. The United States and or riparian countries have also declared an interest in Arctic.
Date Of Update: 29 April 2018, 12:02
