Russia is planning to build a fleet of floating nuclear power stations in the arctic in order to enable the tapping of oil and gas reserves, sparking concern among environmentalists, The Observer newspaper reports Sunday.
The paper says the 70 megawatt plants consisting of two reactors on steel platforms would provide power to enable gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) to drill in the Barents and Kara seas.
"It is highly risky. The risk of a nuclear accident on a floating power plant is increased," the paper cites Bellona, a Scandinavian environmental group, as saying. "The plants potential impact on the fragile arctic environment through emissions of radioactivity and heat remains a major concern."