Mobile nuclear power plants will provide Russia with access to Arctic gold deposits

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In the north of the Russian Far East, rich in deposits of gold, lithium and other precious metals and minerals, mobile nuclear power plants of Rosatom will operate, designed to ensure the development of these natural resources. According to OilPrice, Russia seeks to use the advantages that the Northern Sea Route opens to it due to the changing climate and mineral resources of the Arctic region.

So, Chukotka, Eastern Siberia and Yakutia are very rich in lithium, and by 2050 the Russian Federation can become a source of 3,5 percent of this metal on a global scale. In addition, there are vast deposits of copper, cobalt and rare earth metals in the Russian North. The demand for such natural resources will only grow over time.



In this regard, Russia is thinking about the most economical way to extract these deposits. Experts believe that mobile nuclear power plants can become a source of energy for the development of deposits. One of such facilities of Rosatom, the Akademik Lomonosov thermal power plant of project 20870, is located near the town of Pevek in Chukotka.

The Russian nuclear corporation plans to build five more floating nuclear power plants to support mining projects. Their cost is about $ 2,2 billion.

Floating power plants are the first step towards the development of Russia's metal and mineral resources in the Arctic. According to OilPrice experts, Russia is thus beginning to prepare for a world after fossil fuels. In this world, hydrocarbons will be replaced by metals and minerals.
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    1. -7
      6 December 2021 15: 48
      The nuclear power plant in Bilibino has been operating since 1966. In 2015, its decommissioning began. This process was extended until 2025. Once again. It turned out to be unprofitable. The floating plants were built with a view to export. The floating nuclear power plant was planned to be brought in to supply Sevmash in Severodvinsk. “This idea is not new, but it is important that the technologies that will be used there are up-to-date, ”President Vladimir Putin said regarding the construction of the floating power plant.
      And it’s true. In fact, the Americans invented the floating nuclear power plant and even built one. Back in 1961, the energy company Offshore Power Systems began construction of the 45 MW Sturgis floating power plant and planned to build eight floating power plants with a total capacity of 1980 MW by the early 1150s. The project was invested about 180 million dollars, but it failed miserably. In 1976, the floating nuclear power plant was decommissioned for safety and economic reasons. Public protests and clear opposition from the coastal states also played a role.
      Dmitry Zelensky, CEO of Malaya Energetics, admitted that the cost of electricity generated by floating nuclear power plants is “several times more expensive than conventional nuclear power plants,” but in the Far North, he said, it is still cheaper than fossil fuels.
      However, one should not only forget that the project estimate does not include these costs associated with the dismantling of the station and the disposal of waste. At a meeting with environmentalists at the Kola NPP at the end of 2018, Sergei Kiriyenko honestly admitted: "If we were now paying for waste and for dismantling nuclear power plants, nuclear energy would be very expensive and nuclear power plants would have to be closed."
      In Russia, they are needed like an electric drum jackal.
      1. 0
        6 December 2021 15: 53
        Water again, are you making a mess?
        1. -5
          6 December 2021 16: 00
          I wish you attention while reading the comments and test post.
    2. +1
      6 December 2021 16: 23
      The service life is 10 years, then for repairs and recharging - it is out of operation for at least 1 year, and the Baimskoye field in Chukotka works non-stop. This requires the construction of a stationary substitute energy source equal to a floating nuclear power plant - two (!) Stations and an oversupply of capacity are obtained. Stopping or running at less than full capacity of any of them will be costly
    3. -5
      6 December 2021 19: 21
      Mobile nuclear power plants will provide Russia with access to Arctic gold deposits

      - Ha, personally I have already written about this floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov", which is in Chukotka ...
      - and offered to drive it to the shores of the Crimea (it was then about desalination of the Black Sea water in order to solve the problem of supplying fresh water to the Crimea Peninsula ... - Well, of course - then in the Black Sea, in the Crimea itself and throughout the region - right away there would appear "another problem" ... - and it is still unknown - which of them is more "sad" ...
      - Well, in the meantime, Chukotka is not reliably "guarded" by this floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov" ... - Now it is unlikely that any of the enemies will want to poke their heads on the Chukotka Peninsula with "bad intentions" (just kidding) ......
    4. +1
      7 December 2021 11: 06
      Quote: gunnerminer
      In Russia, they are needed like an electric drum jackal.

      As a matter of fact, Russia does not care about your opinion on any occasion.
    5. 0
      7 December 2021 13: 55
      And how is this floating power plant different from a nuclear icebreaker in the bad direction?
    6. 0
      7 December 2021 19: 25
      In the USSR, very such mini-nuclear power plants were developed. The 90s almost buried everyone. Glad if this industry grows.