On Sunday, April 15, Russia began construction of its first floating nuclear power plant. The country plans to build at least six more despite long-standing environmental concerns that they are vulnerable to accidents at sea.

Russia justifies the program as a way of bringing electricity to some of the country’s most remote areas, also saying some of the plants could be sold to other countries.

The head of Russia’s nuclear energy agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, said the plants will be safe.

“This plant is much safer than atomic energy stations on the ground,” he was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying at a formal ceremony at the Sevmash fabricating plant in Severodvinsk on the White Sea coast.

He cited the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk, which took place in 2000, as evidence of the reliability of the plants, which will use reactors similar to those on the sub. “After the boat was raised, specialists proved that the reactor could be put into service that very moment,” Kiriyenko said.

Rosatom and Sevmash signed a document on their intent to build six more floating power plants, the Itar-Tass agency reported.

It cited Rosatom sources as saying talks were under way on selling plants to unspecified Asian and African countries as well as to Russian regions.

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