CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

EZEKIEL ARCHIBONG energy to enhance their socio-economic growth and progressively achieve energy abundance. To further demonstrate its commitment, many countries, including those in West Africa, have shown interest in small reactors, such as the FNPP, which promise enhanced safety and security compared to large reactors. 2. Evolution and Concept of FNPPs The United States constructed the first FNPP in the world in the 1960s. The Sturgis was a conversion from the Liberty Ship Charles H. Cugle , which entailed the removal of the propulsion plant and replacing the midsection of the original vessel, making it a barge. 18 After that, it was towed to its operating location at the Panama Canal Zone in 1976, where it augmented the power needs of the region before being towed back to Fort Belvoir for decommissioning, which was completed in 1978. 19 Similarly, the Soviet military experimented with the invention of FNPPs in the 1980s, but this failed at the early stage. 20 After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, further attempts were made to construct an FNPP. However, due to internal turmoil arising from post-Soviet governance, the momentum for the project was unsustainable. 21 The project was set in motion again in early 2002 and in 2019, with the construction of Akademik Lomonoso v. T he Akademik Lomonosov , which is the only FNPP in the world, was towed from Murmansk to the Port of Pevek in Chukotka, where it is currently supplying electricity to the people in Pevek. 22 The relevant regulatory authorities are yet to reach a consensus on the definition of FNPP. 23 However, the IAEA, in a 2013 publication, defined a Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) as a ‘factory-manufactured, movable nuclear power plant that, when fuelled, can produce final energy products such as electricity and heat.’ 24 Within the myriads of TNPP’s designs are sub-categories, including FNPPs. 25 An FNPP is not designed to produce energy during transportation or power the transportation itself. 26 Unlike conventional land based plants, which require on-site construction, an FNPP is built, from start to finish, in shipyards, using the same expert construction technology as on nuclear icebreakers and navy ships. After undergoing the required testing, they are subsequently transported to the operation site. 27 18 HONERLAH, H. B. and HEARTY, B. P. ‘Characterization of the Nuclear Barge Sturgis’ ( WM’02 Conference, Tucson, AZ, 24 – 26 February 2002 ) accessed 4 May 2024. 19 KANG-HEON LEE, MIN-GIL KIM, JEONG IK LEE, AND PHILL-SEUNG LEE, ‘Recent Advances in Ocean Nuclear Power Plants’ (2015) 8 Energies 11470. 20 NIKITIN, A. and ANDREYEV, L. ‘Floating Nuclear Power Plants’ (2011) 1 Bellona 6. 21 Ibid. 22 World Nuclear News, ‘Russia Connects Floating Plant to Grid’ ( World Nuclear News, 19 December 2019 ) accessed 4 April 2024. 23 The major regulating authorities in the deployment of FNPP are the: International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA). 24 International Atomic Energy Agency , Legal and Institutional Issues of Transportable Nuclear Power Plants: A Preliminary Study (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2013).

25 Ibid. 26 Ibid. 27 ibid.

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