Rosatom participated in SMR-2020 in Prague

Rosatom representatives took part in the SMR-2020, the annual conference devoted to small moduclar reactors which took place in Prague on February 13, 2020. The Conference was organized by the Nuclear Physics Department, the Czech Technical Unifersity in Prage, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.  

Artem Larionov, Senior Specialist of the Product Marketing Department at Rusatom Overseas (Rosatom's subsidiary), spoke about Rosatom’s current developments in the field of small modular reacotrs. In particular, he presented RITM-200, an advanced pressurized water reactor, combining all the strong points of its predecessors. According to A. Larionov, the reactor main advantages include its cost-efficiency, small size and safety. RITM-200 has been designed for nuclear ice-breakers, land-based small NPPs, and floating nuclear power plants.  “This is our reference technology as we have already constructed six RITM-200 reactors by now. Two reactors onboard “Arktika” icebreaker have already been commissioned,” pointed out Larionov. The speaker also highlighted the features of “Akademik Lomonosov”, the first-of-a-kind world floating nuclear power plant, that was connected to the grid at the end of 2019. At present, Rosatom is working on the next generation of its FNPP - an optimized floating power unit (OFPU).

Talking about Rosatom’s developments in the field of land-based small reactors, Larionov noted: “To make small modulat reactors projects widespread, including the land-based small NPP with RITM -200, we need to address a number of challenges such as harmonized safety standards, standartized design, efficient plant life cycle and flexible business models”.

Svjatoslav Pikh, Manager of the Group for Small Modular Reactors Projects at Rusatom Overseas, spoke about the construction of a pilot land-based small NPP in Russia. "Rosatom is now selecting a construction site. We are considering several options including sites in the Urals, in Yakutia and Chukotka". he said. Pikh noted that small modular reactors are perfect for remote regions as they allow to increase the efficiency of the regional industry sector, providing jobs and other multiple socio-economical benefits.