Russia Announces Nearly Impossible Plan To Build Nuclear Submarines For Gas Exports

Russia has unveiled plans to build nuclear-powered submarines that will transport liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic to Asia.

This unique approach aims to reduce the journey time along the Northern Sea Route from 20 days to just 12 days, per a senior state official.

Russia is using nuclear-powered icebreakers to transport LNG across the NSR, which spans from Murmansk in the west to the Bering Strait in the east.

Moscow considers this route a viable alternative to the Suez Canal, and plans for further development are already underway.

However, the country faces significant challenges due to a shortage of vessels capable of navigating the thick Arctic ice, a major obstacle for the Arctic LNG 2 project.

The Arctic LNG 2 facility began producing sea-borne LNG in December 2022. Despite the initial cargoes being sent in early August, the gas has yet to be delivered to end-buyers.

Mikhail Kovalchuk, director of the Kurchatov Institute and a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, revealed details about the submarine project during an industry conference in St. Petersburg.

Kovalchuk said that this new class of vessel could replace traditional gas carriers, which require icebreaker support year-round in Arctic conditions.

The conference website claimed that discussions about the development of underwater nuclear-powered gas carriers have been underway since the early 2000s.

Kovalchuk added that the Kurchatov Institute and Gazprom had officially started the design process, signaling a commitment to move the project forward.

Per reports, the planned submarines would be about 360 meters long and 70 meters wide and powered by RITM-200 nuclear reactors, similar to those used in Russia’s latest icebreakers.

These submarines are expected to transport around 180,000 tons of LNG, similar to Arc 7 ice-class gas carriers.

Some experts doubt the project will be a success despite its ambitious plans. Alexander Nikitin, a former Russian Navy officer and nuclear scientist, has expressed concern about Russia’s ability to build such submarines.

He said the project would require more servicing vessels, specialized docks, and crews with specialized training.

Nikitin described the submarine project as possibly impractical, calling it a “bluff.” Based on Russia’s current capabilities and resources, he believes there are valid reasons to doubt whether the project can be effectively executed.

References: Reuters, Newsweek

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