Rosenergoatom Advances Bilibino NPP Decommissioning Preparation in Chukotka

In late August 2026, a delegation led by Alexander Shutikov, Director General of Rosenergoatom, conducted a working visit to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, traveling to the two nuclear-related towns of Bilibino and Pevek for a series of meetings on the further management of Bilibino NPP, the operation of the Pevek Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant, and regional energy security.

In Bilibino, Shutikov met with Evgeny Safonov, Head of the Bilibino Municipal District Administration. The parties discussed current and long-term regional projects supported by Rosatom, including progress on the construction of the new "Orbit" ski base.

Shutikov also held a meeting with the staff of Bilibino NPP. The plant was shut down in December 2025 and is currently in a power-generation-free operational state. The meeting identified the primary task of developing and approving a new organizational and functional management structure and staffing plan to ensure the long-term, safe operation of systems and equipment related to spent nuclear fuel management. During the meeting, Andrey Kuznetsov was appointed as the head of the enterprise.

During their stay in Chukotka, the delegation also held discussions with the management of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug administration and Chukotenergo, the company responsible for backup power supply to the isolated Chaun–Bilibino energy hub. The parties focused on the stability of regional energy infrastructure, the basis for electricity tariffs for consumers, and improving social conditions for Pevek residents.

A dedicated interdepartmental working group has been established locally to optimize power generation and grid operation processes. The meeting also decided to strengthen monitoring of electricity consumption by large industrial enterprises. Under isolated grid conditions, load control is of critical importance for ensuring safe system operation.

The meeting also discussed the prospects for building an emergency heat source project in Pevek, intended to maintain municipal utilities and heating networks in the event of extreme climate conditions or abnormal operating conditions in the regional energy system.

Andrey Zaslavsky, Chief Engineer of the Pevek Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant, stated that the meetings examined in detail the significance of the plant's key operations for safe and reliable power generation, including the unloading of spent nuclear fuel, preparation for the mid-life overhaul of the Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit, and the modernization of ship systems in accordance with specific technical solutions.

During the visit, the delegation also focused on building food self-sufficiency in the Arctic region. The greenhouse complex project of Arctic AtomService was identified as a priority. According to plans, by 2027 the enterprise's annual fresh vegetable production could reach 100 tonnes. Through a supporting subsidy mechanism, the final price of locally produced vegetables is expected to be approximately half that of comparable imported products.

Bilibino NPP is a branch of Rosenergoatom, located in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, approximately 4.5 km from the town of Bilibino and about 610 km from Anadyr, the administrative center of the region. The plant previously supplied power to regional industrial enterprises and provided heating to the town of Bilibino within the isolated Chaun–Bilibino energy hub. By the end of 2025, all its power units had been shut down. Since 2026, the plant has been in a power-generation-free operational state, primarily engaged in preparing the shutdown units for decommissioning while maintaining the safety of systems and equipment still in operation under the established configuration.

The Pevek Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant partially replaces the generating capacity of Bilibino NPP after its shutdown. The plant comprises the Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit and onshore support infrastructure. The unit is equipped with two KLT-40S reactor plants, with an electrical capacity of 70 MW and a heat output capacity of 50 Gcal/h, supplying both electricity and thermal energy to consumers.