« Quebec unveils carbon tax | Main | Report: Calif.'s global warming emissions surge - San Jose Mercury News »
June 21, 2006
Russia to build floating nuclear power station
Russia is to shrug off environmental concerns about 'floating Chernobyls' and press ahead with construction of the world's first floating nuclear power station. The Kremlin has approved the project and a shipyard in the far north of Russia that usually turns out nuclear submarines will begin construction work next year.Rosenergoatom, Russia's nuclear power agency, says it intends to build up to six floating power stations and that the first one will be ready in 2010. They will supply heat and electricity to far-flung corners of Russia's Far East and Far North where it is difficult and expensive to ship coal and oil. Russia has made no secret of the fact that it would also like to sell the controversial mobile power units to other countries such as China and India. The power stations have a service life of forty years, require a crew of 69 people, and generate enough heat and electricity to power a medium-sized town.
Posted by dymaxion at June 21, 2006 10:53 PM