Construction sites. A retaining frame has been installed in the reactor building of Akkuyu Unit 4. It is a key structural element of the reactor pit, designed to securely fasten the reactor pressure vessel. The installation operation lasted several hours. The retaining frame was manufactured at Tyazhmash JSC (Russia) and delivered to the Akkuyu NPP site by sea. “The installation of the retaining frame is a key construction milestone on the path to building the fourth power unit. Installing large-size components requires meticulous preparation: it is important to consider all weather factors and ensure that the supporting metal structures, machinery, and qualified personnel are ready. The installation teams successfully accomplished the task,” said Akkuyu Nuclear CEO Sergey Butskikh. Following the installation of the retaining frame, the reactor pit will be filled with a special concrete mix.

Northern Sea Route. Rosatom Arctic has approved the design for an Arctic-class container vessel. The ship is intended for the newly established regular Russia–China container shipping line utilizing the waters of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The container vessel is designed to fit perfectly into the existing icebreaker escort system: its width of 35 meters matches the width of the channel that can be cleared by a Project 22220 multi-purpose nuclear icebreaker. This will guarantee minimum resistance and maximum safety when escorting vessels through heavy ice. The ship will be able to independently break through even first-year ice of up to 1.7 meters thick, which is critical for ensuring regular year-round navigation on specific sections of the NSR.

Technologies. Rosatom presented a range of energy solutions at a webinar dedicated to national nuclear energy programs in the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Alexander Tsibulya, a Rosatom representative, highlighted the advantages of Russian nuclear technologies: “We can offer ASEAN countries proven solutions that have been validated by years of actual operation, including both large nuclear power plants and small modular reactors in land-based and floating designs, tailored to each country’s needs, national energy strategy, and geography. Today, Russian nuclear reactors are the most in-demand in the world. We are constructing 22 out of 25 power reactors being built globally under export contracts, and we are ready to share our advanced technologies with partner countries,” Alexander Tsibulya pointed out.