Achievements. Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., a Chinese state-owned rating agency, has assigned AtomEnergoProm a national-scale credit rating of AAA(RU) with a stable outlook. This is the highest possible sovereign rating level. The agency noted that AtomEnergoProm offers a wide range of products and services, has an integrated production chain, and holds a substantial position in the global nuclear fuel industry. The company is one of the largest suppliers of clean energy and the sole operator of nuclear power plants in Russia. This is the company’s third credit rating received. Earlier, AtomEnergoProm was assigned ratings by Russian agencies Expert RA (ruAAA) and ACRA (AAA(ru)).

Icebreakers. The third multi-purpose nuclear icebreaker Yakutia has arrived at its home port of Murmansk. The journey from Saint Petersburg took six days, during which the icebreaker crossed the Baltic, North, Norwegian, and Barents Seas, covering a total of 2,470 nautical miles. “The nuclear-powered icebreaker Yakutia is much awaited in the waters of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). It has arrived at just the right time, the peak of the winter-spring navigation season. The ice buildup period on the NSR is now coming to an end. Yakutia will have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate all its key technical advantages: power, maneuverability, and dual-draft capability. The icebreaker’s crew will be working in the Yenisey area of the Kara Sea,” said Yakov Antonov, acting CEO of Russian nuclear fleet operator Atomflot. At present, the company operates eight nuclear icebreakers, with three more under construction.

Cooperation. A seminar by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Leadership and Management has concluded at the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant. Over three days, IAEA representatives shared international best practices in enhancing the safety of nuclear power plants. During the seminar, experts conducted walkdowns of the VVER-1200 reactor units. The seminar was held in preparation of the plant for the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) mission, the IAEA’s oldest type of mission for independent operational safety assessments of nuclear power plants. The mission is scheduled for 2026. A similar inspection was conducted at the plant’s fourth power unit in 2017. The Leningrad NPP is one of Russia’s largest nuclear power plants in terms of installed capacity (4,400 MW). It operates four RBMK-1000 units and two VVER-1200 units.