Russia and China cooperate on floating plants

Friday, 16 September 2011 A high-level meeting of Chinese and Russian nuclear leaders has resulted in an agreement to 'develop cooperation' on floating nuclear power plants. "Our Chinese partners have shown great interest in the Russian project," said Rosatom chief Sergei Kiriyenko, referring to the first floating plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, being built in Saint Petersburg. Early plans for the plant had foreseen the Russian marine power reactors being fitted to a Chinese-built barge. The countries are also discussing cooperation for space nuclear power systems, and from mid-2012 Russia will supply radioisotope thermal generators to the Chinese space program.