Norwegian Regulators Question Russia's Plans For Floating Reactors

摘要

Norwegian regulators have raised questions about the business model for Russia's planned floating power reactors and say the units also pose new types of safety risk.rnThe reactors would be built on barge-like vessels and then anchored off the coast of customer countries.rnA recently released report by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, or NRPA, said that Russia's plan to sell the electricity from reactors it would build, and own and operate is "somewhat novel. This novelty may place floating nuclear power plants in a relatively grey area with respect to international laws and regulations."rnThe Russians want to retain ownership and operation of the floating reactors but sell the heat and electricity they produce. Floating units have gotten a boost worldwide because the technology is suitable for powering desalination plants, which are often located in areas where land-based reactors or other types of conventional power plants can't be built.