In early April, Rosatom reported the completion of nuclear fuel production for the second reactor of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker Yakutia, which is being built these days at the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. Now the ship is fully equipped with fuel for the next 7 years—the RITM-200 propulsion system does not often require fuel cell replacement. However, this is a good thing, since nuclear fuel production is one of the most complex technological processes in our country.

Modern nuclear installations on nuclear icebreakers are powered by uranium-235 enriched up to 20%. In total, the core contains 199 fuel assemblies with ceramic-metal fuel, which do not have a pronounced radiation background before activation. They can be transported and stored relatively safely, though with the proper precautions and guards in place. Enriched uranium is a jewel that should not be left unattended. Why? It is very rare and extremely expensive to produce. In total, only 0.6% of the world's uranium reserves are uranium-235, and the rest of the space is predominantly occupied by uranium-238, which cannot reproduce a self-sustaining chain reaction. Of course, there is an idea to reprocess it into usable plutonium-239, but so far it is far from being realised into a full-fledged industry.

Uranium is mined in the form of ore. There are three methods—open-pit, in-mine and in-situ leaching. The first two mining methods are fundamentally no different from similar activities in relation to hard coal, iron or gold. The company's employees break down the rock, sort it and take the valuable ore to the processing plant. However, the radioactivity of uranium ore, which negatively affects human health and the environment, makes its own adjustments. In recent years, the latter method is gaining popularity—instead of open mines and direct contact with the mineral, workers drill wells into which sulfuric acid is injected. It dissolves the uranium salts and is sent with them to a sealed container on the surface. Around such a device, the radiation background corresponds to that of large cities. Once at the enrichment plant, uranium is enriched and pressed into 'pellets' using lubricants. The resulting moulds are then fired in gas furnaces at 1,000°C, inspected and packed into shell tubes. For the Yakutia icebreaker, the work on fuel enrichment was performed by JSC "Mashinostroitelny Zavod," located in the Moscow Region.

However, the story of nuclear fuel does not end there. After 7 years of continuous operation in the core of the Yakutia icebreaker, the fuel assemblies will be sent underwater to special pools where they will be kept underwater. It (like the thick walls of the pool) protects those around it from the increased radiation produced by both the irradiated assembly shell and the unburned uranium. The latter can be processed into another fuel—today Russia is working on creating a closed fuel cycle that will maximise the potential of extracted resources. Also of interest to scientists is the 1% plutonium found in spent nuclear fuel, as well as radioactive isotopes. They can be used in medicine, industry and research.

Meanwhile, the new 2220 series multipurpose icebreakers are one of the key factors supporting the ongoing development of the North Sea Route. Due to their dynamic draft, they can both call at ports throughout the NSR and pass the entire route, conducting ice navigation for most of the year. At the moment, three ships are sailing in Russian waters of the Arctic Ocean—Arktika, Sibir and Ural. The Yakutia is scheduled to be launched this year, while the Chukotka will make its first voyage in 2025. Rosatom also plans to lay down two more ships in the near future—Kamchatka and Sakhalin. They can break ice up to 2.9 m thick and reach speeds of up to 55 knots.