In a significant development, Russia has extended an offer to India for the technology to build and operate floating “low power” nuclear power generation projects. This was announced in a press release by Rosatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear power company, following a meeting between Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, in Russia on Thursday.
During their discussions, Mohanty and Likhachev also reviewed the progress of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, which is being constructed according to Russian designs in India. The project consists of six power units, each equipped with a 1,000 MW light-water reactor.
In addition to the floating nuclear plant technology, Russia proposed the serial construction of land-based nuclear power units at new sites in India, alongside cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle and non-power applications of nuclear technologies.
The concept of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) has garnered significant interest globally, particularly for their potential role in addressing climate change and aiding the transition to net-zero emissions. Russia currently operates the world’s only floating nuclear power plant aboard the ship Akademik Lomonosov, stationed at the Arctic port of Pevek.
Indian nuclear industry representatives recently visited the Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) in Seversk, Tomsk region, part of Russia’s “Proryv” (“Breakthrough”) strategic industry project. This visit underscores the growing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), some of which could be ship-mounted.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been actively discussing the implications and benefits of FNPPs. At a symposium held in Vienna last November, experts and industry leaders highlighted the potential of FNPPs to provide low-carbon power and heat for various applications, including district heating, desalination, and hydrogen production.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized the need for thorough analysis of the safeguards and international legal and regulatory implications associated with FNPPs. He noted that while nuclear energy has been used in naval ships and icebreakers for around 60 years, FNPPs are distinct in their application for civilian power and heat generation.
This initiative represents a notable step forward in Indo-Russian cooperation in nuclear energy, with potential long-term benefits for India’s energy security and environmental goals.
