SEVERODVINSK (northern Russia), April 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has launched the construction of floating nuclear power plants, the head of Russia's nuclear power agency said Sunday.

Sergei Kiriyenko participated April 15 in the ceremony of laying the foundation for the first floating NPP in the northern city of Severodvinsk.

"Today we are signing an agreement on the construction of six energy units of floating nuclear power plants. The demand for them exists not only in Russia but also in the Asia and Pacific region where they can be used for water desalination," Kiriyenko said.

Kiriyenko said the first floating nuclear power plant, to be named after the great Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov, will have a capacity of 70 megawatts of electricity and about 300 megawatts of thermal power.

Floating nuclear power plants can operate without fuel reload for 12-15 years and have enhanced radiation protection.

Floating NPPs are expected to be widely used in regions that experience a shortage of energy and also in the implementation of projects requiring standalone and uninterrupted energy supply in the absence of a development power system.