Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Zio-Podolsk, part of Rosatom’s Machine-Building Division, has manufactured the second RITM-200S reactor unit for the PEB-106 floating nuclear power unit. The power unit is intended to supply electricity to an industrial copper mining cluster in Chukotka.
The completed reactor unit has passed hydraulic tests confirming the reliability of the equipment, as well as a trial assembly. During the assembly, the connections between all components and elements are checked for compliance with the design documentation.
The plant has therefore completed the full set of two RITM-200S reactor units предусмотренных конструкцией PEB-106.
“2026 has been a landmark year for the Zio-Podolsk machine builders: for the first time, we manufactured a complete set of RITM units for a floating nuclear power unit that will supply power to an industrial cluster in the Russian North. This is an important step in the development of small-scale nuclear power. This year, the plant also set a record: four RITM-family units have already been manufactured in less than a year, with another five currently in production,” said Anton Lebedev, head of Zio-Podolsk.
The first reactor unit for PEB-106 was manufactured in May 2026 and has already been delivered to the shipyard. The two reactors will subsequently be installed in the hull of the floating power unit.
RITM-200: From Icebreaker Fleet to Small-Scale Nuclear Power
The RITM-200 reactor unit was developed for Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet. Its compact design reduced the equipment’s dimensions by approximately 1.5 times compared with previous generations while increasing its power characteristics.
Technological solutions used in the RITM-200 and tested in Arctic conditions became the basis for developing low-capacity power units, including those intended for remote areas.
A total of 16 RITM-family reactor units have been manufactured to date, eight of which are operating aboard the nuclear-powered icebreakers Arktika, Ural, Sibir and Yakutia. Another 12 units are at various stages of production.
Several enterprises of Rosatom’s Machine-Building Division are involved in manufacturing the equipment. Afrikantov OKBM in Nizhny Novgorod is the chief designer and integrated supplier of the reactor unit. AEM-Spetsstal in St Petersburg produces metallurgical blanks, while Zio-Podolsk is responsible for manufacturing the reactor vessel, final testing and trial assembly.
Floating Nuclear Power for Remote Areas
Floating power units are considered one option for providing a stable electricity supply to remote areas with access to the sea. Their use makes it possible to generate electricity over extended periods regardless of weather conditions and infrastructure limitations typical of hard-to-reach regions.
The world’s first floating nuclear power unit, Akademik Lomonosov, has been operating in Chukotka since 2020. During its operation, it has generated almost 1.4 billion kWh of electricity.
A family of floating power units equipped with RITM-200 reactor units of different capacities has now been developed for operation in various climatic conditions.
One of the key projects is the serial production of PEB-106 units to supply electricity to an industrial copper mining cluster in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The project envisages using a floating power unit to provide electricity for industrial production.
The development of such technologies is linked to expanding the capabilities of small-scale nuclear power, including for supplying industrial enterprises and remote settlements.
Rosatom’s Machine-Building Division is a major Russian power engineering holding company and supplies equipment for Russian-designed nuclear power plants under construction. It also develops and manufactures equipment and integrated solutions for the energy and industrial sectors.
