This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49446235
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Russia floating nuclear power station sets sail across Arctic | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russia has launched the world's first floating nuclear power station, which will sail 5,000km (3,000 miles) from the Arctic port of Murmansk to Chukotka in the far east. | |
The nuclear agency Rosenergoatom says the Akademik Lomonosov's mobility will boost the power supply to remote areas. | The nuclear agency Rosenergoatom says the Akademik Lomonosov's mobility will boost the power supply to remote areas. |
One of its targets is to power the Chaun-Bilibin mining complex in Chukotka, which includes gold mines. | One of its targets is to power the Chaun-Bilibin mining complex in Chukotka, which includes gold mines. |
Greenpeace sees the project as high-risk, in a harsh weather environment. | Greenpeace sees the project as high-risk, in a harsh weather environment. |
Critics including Greenpeace point to previous Russian and Soviet nuclear accidents and warn that the Akademik Lomonosov's mission increases the risk of polluting the Arctic - a remote, sparsely-populated region with no big clean-up facilities. | Critics including Greenpeace point to previous Russian and Soviet nuclear accidents and warn that the Akademik Lomonosov's mission increases the risk of polluting the Arctic - a remote, sparsely-populated region with no big clean-up facilities. |
The launch comes just two weeks after a nuclear-powered engine blew up on a Russian naval test range in the Arctic, killing five nuclear engineers and releasing radiation, though the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was far worse. | The launch comes just two weeks after a nuclear-powered engine blew up on a Russian naval test range in the Arctic, killing five nuclear engineers and releasing radiation, though the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was far worse. |
The floating power station's highly radioactive spent fuel will be stored on board. Others of similar design will follow to serve remote areas. | The floating power station's highly radioactive spent fuel will be stored on board. Others of similar design will follow to serve remote areas. |
The Akademik Lomonosov is also destined to supply electricity to offshore oil rigs in Russia's Arctic. Another idea is to hook it up to a desalination plant, to produce fresh water, and in future island states could benefit from such power stations. | The Akademik Lomonosov is also destined to supply electricity to offshore oil rigs in Russia's Arctic. Another idea is to hook it up to a desalination plant, to produce fresh water, and in future island states could benefit from such power stations. |
The Arctic sea route connecting European Russia with far eastern ports is becoming navigable for longer periods because global warming is reducing pack ice. | The Arctic sea route connecting European Russia with far eastern ports is becoming navigable for longer periods because global warming is reducing pack ice. |
Three tugs will tow the facility to Pevek, where it is expected to dock in late September. In good weather conditions it will sail at 4-5 knots (7-9km/h). | Three tugs will tow the facility to Pevek, where it is expected to dock in late September. In good weather conditions it will sail at 4-5 knots (7-9km/h). |
The Lomonosov was built in St Petersburg and has two nuclear reactors of the type used in Russian icebreakers. They are KLT-40S reactors with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts, and are reported to be tsunami-proof. | The Lomonosov was built in St Petersburg and has two nuclear reactors of the type used in Russian icebreakers. They are KLT-40S reactors with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts, and are reported to be tsunami-proof. |
Russia's Vesti news programme says the facility will have enough power to illuminate and heat a town of about 100,000 inhabitants. The crew on board is expected to be about 70-strong. | Russia's Vesti news programme says the facility will have enough power to illuminate and heat a town of about 100,000 inhabitants. The crew on board is expected to be about 70-strong. |
It is 140m (459ft) long, 30m (98ft) wide and is expected to operate for 40 years. | It is 140m (459ft) long, 30m (98ft) wide and is expected to operate for 40 years. |