Russians to Build Floating Nuclear Plant to Aid Arctic Oil Drilling

This takes the Seasteading Sink or Swim contest to a whole new level. The BBC is reporting that the Rooskies are building floating nuclear power plants that will be able to provide enough electricity and warm water for 45,000 people. According to the story, these eight monolithic nuclear flotillas will be able to stay at sea for up to twelve years while they drill for oil near the North Pole. Watch the video here or read more at the BBC.

Courtesy of BBC

Claims to sovereignty over the Arctic and its oil are hotly contested, with Russia, Canada, the U.S., Denmark, Norway, Finland and–am I missing anyone?–all tip toeing around each other. (Here’s a 2007 NYT op ed on the subject. Old Marginal Revolution here.) Two interesting facts:

• Between 1958 and 1992, Russia dumped 18 nuclear reactors into the Arctic Ocean, several of them still fully loaded with nuclear fuel.
• Floating nuclear power plants were suggested in the United States during the mid-1970s.

Hat tip Alexis Madrigal.