Russia Says Small Nuclear Power Plants Can Improve Energy Supply in Remote Areas

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri·Trutnev said on September 3 during the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) that deploying small nuclear power plants in remote areas of Russia, including the Arctic region, is expected to significantly change the local energy consumption structure and supply methods.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri·Trutnev 

Trutnev said that remote areas, especially the Arctic region, have a real demand for stable energy supply, and low-power nuclear power plants can play a role in these areas. He stated that Russia has begun constructing and deploying relevant facilities.

Trutnev cited the “Akademik Lomonosov” (Akademik Lomonosov) floating nuclear power plant in the Chukotka region as an example, noting that four additional nuclear power facilities are planned for installation there. He also mentioned that an onshore small nuclear power plant is under construction in the Yakutia region.

Trutnev believes that small nuclear power plants are an important development direction for energy supply in remote areas. He said that Russia is vast in territory, making it impossible to extend transmission lines to all remote areas, and difficult to rely on centralized large power plants to cover all regions.