China builds barge for nuclear plant

China will manufacture a barge for the Russian Federal Nuclear Agency which will outfit it with the reactor equipment at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk located in the Archangels region in northern Russia.

China offered the best conditions for the barge production and in addition it will issue Russia a long-term credit covering the price of the barge. The price tag of the contract with China is $86.5m.

The low capacity floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) will be small and will produce roughly 1/150th of the power produced by a standard Russian nuclear power station. Construction could begin in 2006 if the project finds financing, and the FNPP will be located in the White Sea, off the coast of Severodvinsk. It will be moored near the Sevmash plant, which is the main facility of the State Nuclear Shipbuilding Center. The FNPP will be equipped with two power units using KLT-40S reactors and will meet all of Sevmash?s energy requirements for just 5 or 6 cents per kilowatt. If necessary, the plant will also be able to supply heat and desalinate seawater. The reactors will be loaded with nuclear fuel once every three years and will have a lifespan of 40 years.