Russia says it faces inevitable challenges with plans to build its first land-based small modular reactor because of poor transport infrastructure in the eastern public of Yakutia, but is confident the project will go ahead and that the country has a big enough domestic market for serial SMR production – which could begin as soon as 2030.

State nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed reports late last year that Russia is planning to build a land-based SMR in Yakutia, also known as Sakha, an autonomous republic 4,000 km to the east of Moscow, between Siberia and Russia’s far east. Rosatom said it is aiming to commission the unit by 2028.

Foremost among hurdles are the remote location and poor transport infrastructure because of permafrost. Rosatom, however, remains confident that construction will go ahead as scheduled and says progress is being made.