The United States plans to return to the international nuclear market and move Russia and China with the help of small modular reactors (MMR). At the same time, the first experimental samples will appear in In North America in 2030-2031, and Rosatom has already started their mass production.
"Rosatom machine builders have manufactured the first RITM-200 reactor unit for the Leningrad nuclear icebreaker," the state corporation reports.
The control assembly of the reactor has been completed at the ZiO-Podolsk plant near Moscow, Rosatom said.
"This is the last stage in the multi—year production cycle of the reactor plant, during which all components and elements are assembled in the design position - exactly as in the drawings, up to one thousandth of a millimeter. The successful completion of the operation allowed the engineers to make sure that the product is fully ready for shipment and subsequent installation in the hull of the vessel and will work reliably for at least 40 years," the state corporation reports.
Anton Lebedev, the head of ZiO-Podolsk, said that the RHYTHM for the icebreaker was the 13th in a row.
"Our company has already manufactured 10 RITM-200 reactor units and two more powerful RITM-400. Over the years, we have accumulated a huge amount of knowledge and skills, and today we have competencies that no one else in the world has," said the head of the enterprise.
The reactors produced are, in fact, small modular reactors with a capacity of 50-110 MW, which can be scaled. Rosatom is already implementing a commercial project in Uzbekistan.
Alexander Uvarov, Director of AtomInfo-Center, notes that now RHYTHM reactors are being used for icebreakers, but low-power nuclear power plants (ASMM) are also suitable.
"Yes, this is mass production, especially considering that there are 15 more at different stages of production," the expert adds.