Rosatom to build Russia’s first land-based small modular nuclear reactor (SMR)

Image: Rosatom

Russian nuclear development agency Rosatom has gained a licence to build Russia’s first land-based small modular reactor (SMR).

It aims to build a water-cooled nuclear reactor RITM-200N in the Ust-Yansky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the Russian Far East.

Rosatom has so far completed engineering surveys, and has started construction of offsite infrastructure facilities and an early-stage camp for workers.

The technology behind SMRs was first developed for naval use and Russia has tested the RITM-200 series of reactors onboard Russian icebreakers.

Director general of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, said, “Pre-construction work is already underway in the area of the village of Ust-Kuyga. More than 2,000 tons of cargo have already been delivered to the site, there are now about 80 workers and 38 pieces of operating equipment there. The scope of work is increasing day by day. The world’s first land-based SMR with RITM-200N is planned to be commissioned in 2028.”

Rosatom said it would conduct an “active dialogue” with foreign customers for its SMR technology as demand for the plants grows.