The construction of the US $ 336 million floating plant would begin next year and it would be commissioned three years later in 2010, according to a contract signed today by Rosenergoatom nuclear power generation corporation and a nuclear submarine building enterprise.
The floating nuclear power plant (NPP), which can be relocated to any coastal area will be build by the Sevmash shipyard, a defence sector enterprise based in Severodvinsk on the White Sea coast, Radio Mayak reported. Its costs would be covered in 11 years.
The project has been approved by all the expert examinations and coordination between ministries and departments, envisioned by the legislation, including the state environmental watchdog.
"The floating NPP, would be as reliable as world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifle," an official of the Sevmash shipyard said.
Chief of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko said the floating NPP is no more dangerous than the Russian nuclear icebreakers regularly sailing in Arctic Ocean.
Kiriyenko said the floating NPP would be built to meet energy requirements of remote coastal areas of the country on the Arctic coast.
According to earlier local media reports China had shown keen interest in the Russian project and offered financing in exchange for technology.
The floating NPP has a highly reliable reactor used in strategic nuclear submarines and the transfer of its technology to China was not desirable, a Federal Atomic Energy Agency source told PTI.
Since the Chinese offer Russia's financial conditions have radically changed and Moscow does not need give away its unique technology and know-how which can be globally marketed, he added.
More from rediff