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Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev has called for an overhaul of nuclear industry regulations to preserve Russia's leading position in the global market for small nuclear power plants, saying current licensing approaches are too conservative for the new technology.
Coverage Comparison
TASS reported two separate statements from Likhachev, both drawn from an article he contributed to the publication Strana Rosatom. In one report, the focus was on the regulatory hurdles facing low-power nuclear power plants (LPNPPs) and the need for Russia to adapt its norms and rules. In the other, TASS highlighted Rosatom's ongoing expansion of its small reactor product line and its continued leadership in the sector.
Key Claims
Regulatory Change Needed
Likhachev stated that maintaining Russia's leadership in small nuclear power plants requires a change in the rules and regulations for the nuclear energy industry. He described LPNPPs as "a new mainstream for decades to come," but warned that their introduction "is fraught with regulatory difficulties." According to Likhachev, supervisory authorities treat these facilities as "fundamentally new" and approach them "cautiously and very conservatively."
"As for Russia, if we want to continue to win the competition in the nuclear energy market, now in small and medium capacity, we also need to take a fresh look at licensing approaches for such installations. This is a task of national importance," he said.
Likhachev expressed hope that the ongoing transformation of nuclear energy norms and rules would continue and help accelerate LPPP projects while "unconditionally complying with the safety requirements of such facilities."
He also suggested that global attitudes are shifting, noting that "excessive conservatism in the world is waning" and that the successes of the U.S. nuclear industry are due not only to developers and manufacturers but also to a national regulator that meets companies halfway.
Leadership and Product Line Expansion
In a separate statement, Likhachev asserted that Rosatom remains the world leader in small nuclear power plants and is actively expanding its product line. He pointed to the widening activities of American companies as a spur for this expansion. "About a dozen reactor plant projects for LPNPP are at various stages of development and implementation," he said.
Likhachev identified the RITM family of reactors for floating and land-based nuclear power plants as the company's most advanced technology, calling it "our bestseller."
He detailed the scale of production: 13 RITM reactors of various capacities have been built for Russia's nuclear icebreaking fleet, a 14th has been produced for a new floating power unit for the Baimskoye field, and a second is in the final stage of production. He added that in June, construction began on an onshore nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan that will include two small power units, with reactors already being manufactured. "All these are not experimental stands, but a serial commercial solution," Likhachev said, noting that Russian enterprises currently have 11 reactor installations for small nuclear power plants in various stages of manufacture.
Ultra-Low Capacity Plans
Likhachev also revealed plans to expand the product line toward ultra-low capacity, with active work on the Shelf-M reactor unit. The Shelf-M is designed for the Chukotka LPNPP, which will supply power to the Elkonsky mining and metallurgical company. According to Likhachev, the reactor will produce 10 MW of electrical power and 35 MW of thermal power for 60 years. A construction schedule for the Shelf-M LPNPP has been developed, and engineering surveys of the placement site have begun.