Construction of floating power station on hold

CORDOBA, ARGENTINA - The construction of Russia's first floating nuclear power plant, Academiciam Lomonosov, has been put on hold because the Sevmash factory, its main contractor, is facing budget shortfalls.

The company is a Defense Ministry factory whose priority is fulfilling military orders.

In May, Russian officials announced that the delay in the building of the floating nuclear power plant would not last more than five months, adding that the plant would be ready in 2011 instead of the originally estimated date of 2010.

The controversial power station is equipped with two 30-MW KLT40C reactors housed in ice-breaking vessels. The construction, which is estimated at more than $336 million, is 60% complete.

The floating nuclear power plant will supply electricity to the town of Severodvinsk and will cover the nearby Sevmash shipbuilding plant's energy needs.