Use of the RITM-200N reactors at the Kyuchus gold ore deposit in the Ust-Yansky District of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Part 1: Prospects for developing nuclear energy to exploit the mineral resources of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

 The development of small nuclear power plants, also known as small modular reactors (SMR) is now a central priority in the strategy of the Russian nuclear industry. SMR offer new opportunities for socioeconomic growth in remote regions, while playing a vital role in ensuring navigational safety in Arctic and Pacific waters. In the Far North, in particular, the one-of-a-kind floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov successfully operates. It is equipped with two KLT-40S pressurized water reactors that provide a combined electrical output of 70 MW. The accumulated expertise in compact reactors has enabled Russian specialists to initiate a project of a land-based small nuclear power plant that uses the RITM-200N reactor. Given the experience of operating the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant, this study analyzes the limiting factors that affect the service life of KLT-40S reactors and steam generator piping systems. The article examines issues related to heat supply for the settlement of Ust-Kuyga (the Sakha Republic, Russia) and power supply for the five nearest settlements. Additionally, the conceptual issues of ensuring nuclear, radiation, and environmental safety for the future operation of the SMR with RITM-200N reactor are analyzed.

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