August 1, 2010

Russia’s Nuclear Mission

Sonal Patel

Armenia/Bulgaria

Also in June, Rosatom CEO Sergey Kiriyenko said that Russia expects to become a 50% co-owner—for the first time ever in another country—of a 1,060-MW VVER-1000 reactor planned for construction at Metsamor, Armenia. Construction is due to begin in 2011–12, with commissioning by 2017. The plant, designed for a 60-year service life, is projected to cost $4 billion. Kiriyenko also suggested that similar negotiations were under way in Bulgaria. “We expect not only to construct a nuclear power plant, but also to become an investor,” he said, adding that Russia intends to join a new venture with the Bulgarian government for the Belene nuclear power plant.

Russia

At home, an updated general plan for meeting consumption figures—which had declined, according to the government’s June figures—shows that Russia is planning to put 173 GW of new generating capacity online, including 43.4 GW of nuclear by 2030. New nuclear plants will include the second reactor at the Volgodonsk nuclear plant, a V-320 type VVER, which is set to start commercial operation in October this year. Two other VVER-1200 reactors are also planned at the plant, sometimes known as Rostov, after its region. Construction of Volgodonsk 3 started in 2009 with commercial operation set for 2013.

4.    Nautically nuclear. Russia on June 30 put the barge for its controversial floating nuclear power plant in the water. Dubbed the “Academician Lomonosov,” the 80-MWe plant is a non-self-propelled vessel that is 474 feet long, 98 feet wide, and 33 feet high. It weighs 21,500 metric tons. The floating power plant is expected to be operational by 2012. Courtesy: Rosatom

Also in June, Russia floated the barge for its controversial floating nuclear power station at the Baltiysky shipyard in St. Petersburg, readying it for operation in 2012. The plant, dubbed “Academician Lomonosov” would have the capacity to produce 80 MW of electricity (Figure 4). The government reports that at least six sites for such plants have been chosen in Russia.

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