Public hearings in the village of Ust-Kuiga in the Russian Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) have approved plans to construct a two-unit low-power NPP (ASMM – Atomnoi Stantsii Maloi Moshnosti). On display were the materials justifying the licence to construct the facility including preliminary materials from the environmental impact assessment.
The hearings were attended by representatives of the administration of the Ust-Yansky district and residents of the village of Ust-Kuiga; the President of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the Republic of Sakha; representatives of the North-Eastern MK Ammosov Federal University; Yakutia Government officials; as well as officials from Russian nuclear utility Rosenergoatom, Rosatom Public Council and JSC Atomenergoproekt (part of Rosatom’s Engineering Division).
“Public hearings on the materials justifying the siting licence for units 1&2 of the Yakut ASMM aroused great interest among residents not only of the Ust-Yansky district, but also of other regions of Yakutia,” noted Oleg Muratov, Executive Secretary of the North-West branch of the Nuclear Society of Russia and a member Rosatom’s Public Council. “The participants listened carefully to the reports, made their proposals and additions to the documents, and also asked questions receiving detailed answers from competent specialists. The hearings were held in a business-like atmosphere, confirming the openness of the process of public discussions and the readiness of the initiators to interact with the population.”
Evgeny Tolstov, Chief Engineer for ASMMs and licensing at JSC Atomenergoproekt explained that the Yakut ASMM is based on the latest RITM-200N reactor plant. “The ASMM is based on pressurised water reactor technology tested over decades and adapted for ground-based deployment. Multi-level protection systems eliminate any negative impacts on the Arctic ecosystem,” he said.
The RITM-200N reactor plant is based on many years of experience in operating small reactors on ships of the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet (more than 400 reactor-years). The implementation of the ASMM project will ensure energy independence and socio-economic development of Arctic Yakutia. Refuelling of the ASMM is required once every five years providing a stable energy supply to vital industrial enterprises and social facilities.
Modern ASMM projects with RITM series reactors have a high level of safety, achieved through multi-level systems and containment, eliminating the possibility of an accident, and preventing the release of radioactive substances into the environment. ASMMs will ensure the energy independence of the region providing a stable electricity and heat supply for energy-intensive industries, and reducing emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere by replacing existing generation sources, in particular diesel sources. Rosenergoatom (part of Rosatom’s Electric Power Division) will be operator of the facility, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2031.
The Yakut ASMM it will become the energy hub for one of the largest mineral resource centres in Russia, and will provide industrial enterprises with electricity. These include the development of the Kyuchus, Deputatskoye and Tirekhtyakh fields; the construction of transport and engineering infrastructure; social facilities in the Ust-Yansky and Verkhoyansk regions; and the construction of a 110 (220) kV Ust-Kuiga – Tirekhtyakh – Deputatsky power transmission line. The project will see positive transformations in the village of Ust-Kuiga and the Ust-Yansky region, which will create a developed territory with a comfortable living and working environment.
For residents of the Ust-Yansky district, the ASMM project – is, first of all, new jobs, development of social infrastructure and confidence in the future,” said Varvara Sergeeva, head of the administration of the Ust-Kuiga municipality. “We understand that without a powerful energy source, large-scale development of our region is impossible. It is important that Rosatom is conducting an open dialogue with the population, taking into account the opinions of environmentalists and respecting the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the North. We are grateful to the residents for their active position and constructive dialogue at the hearings. Today’s approval of the project is our common contribution to the future of the republic.”
The public hearings were managed by a Supervisory Board, which included representatives of the MK Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; the Yakutia Ministry of Ecology, Natural Resources Management & Forestry; the Ministry of Housing, Communal Services & Energy; and the Minister for Arctic Development & Northern Affairs. The Supervisory Board said the public hearings were held in accordance with Russian legislation and relevant regulations.
Alexander Kugaevsky, Advisor to the MK Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University noted: “The materials presented at the hearing convincingly proved the safety of the future ASMM. The environmental aspects considered showed that there was no significant impact on the environment. The new facility meets the requirements of sanitary, hygienic and environmental legislation.”
In accordance with the Roadmap for promising NPP construction projects, by 2035 Russia plans to build 12 new units for medium and high-power NPPs and nine small ground-based and floating NPPs, as well as a number of power units abroad.
