- It is world’s first floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) developed by Russia.
- Akademik Lomonosov was constructed by Russian state nuclear power firm Rosatom.
- It has length of 144 metres and width of 30 metres.
- It has displacement of 21,500 tonnes and crew of 69 people.
- For power generation, it has been fitted with two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion nuclear reactors(each of 35 MW capacity) together providing up to 70 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat.
- It is named after Russian Academician Mikhail Lomonosov.
- It has latest security systems and is considered as one of safest nuclear installations in the world.
- However, environmentalists have dubbed it as ‘nuclear Titanic’ or ‘Chernobyl on ice’.
- It will be primarily used to power oil rigs in remote areas of Artic region where Russia is pushing to drill for oil and gas.
Significance
- The low-capacity, mobile (floating) nuclear power plant can produce enough electricity to power town of 200,000 residents living in Russia’s far-flung northernmost Artic region where large amounts of electricity is not needed’ and construction of conventional power station based on coal, gas and diesel is complicated and costly.
- It can save up to 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
- The project is part of Russia’s greater aims to secure rich deposits of oil and gas in North Pole region in Artic.
- Due to climate change, new shipping routes are opening up in Russia’s north and as result, it is strengthening its military position in the region.