In Russia, the first ever reloading of fuel at a floating nuclear power plant began

By Rhod Mackenzie

The Rosenergoatom concern's press service announced the initiation of the inaugural nuclear fuel reloading at Russia's lone floating nuclear power facility located in Chukotka.

"The operation is taking place directly on board and is expected to be finished by the end of 2023. Fresh fuel cassettes were inserted into one of the two reactors situated on the starboard side of the floating power unit, Akademik Lomonosov," states the announcement.

"The radiation background at the site of the floating nuclear thermal power plant (FNPP) remained constant during the works and matched the natural background radiation levels of the city of Pevek,” stated Maxim Shamambaev, head of the nuclear safety department and chief physicist of the FNPP, as quoted in the message.
The next re-loading of nuclear fuel, scheduled for 2024, at the reactor installation on the left-hand side of the floating power unit "Akademik Lomonosov", has been reported by Rosenergoatom.

The introduction of a floating nuclear thermal power plant in Chukotka was designed to tackle two main issues. Firstly, this project aims to replace the retiring capacities of the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which has been operational since 1974, and the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant, which has been running for over 70 years. Secondly, it intends to support the energy supply to the primary mining enterprises situated in western Chukotka, within the Chaun-Bilibino energy hub - a vast ore and metal cluster, comprising gold mining firms and ventures linked to the Baimsk ore zone's development.

The floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov" supplies the coastal network of Pevek with a total power of approximately 70 MW, without consuming thermal energy from the shore. When operating at maximum thermal power, the plant generates around 44 MW. At the end of 2023, the plant produced 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. The population in Pevek exceeds 4,000 individuals. Nevertheless, the floating nuclear power plant has the capability of supplying power to a city of up to 100,000 residents.