In the last move as a PM, Medvedev secured 1.85 billion euros to build the biggest nuclear-powered icebreaker called “Lider”
On January 15, the same day he delivered his resignation, former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution allocating 127 billion rubles (about 1.85 billion euros) to build the biggest nuclear-powered icebreaker. This is one of the final documents signed by Medvedev during his term of office.
According to the plan, the Russian government will allocate funds from the federal budget between 2020 and 2027 to build the first 10510-type and 120 MW Lider-class-icebreaker, which will be delivered in 2027. The money will go to Rosatom (Russia's National Atomic Energy company), which is responsible for the North Sea Route (NSR) infrastructure and the operation of a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
It was previously reported that the 10510-type Lider-class nuclear-powered icebreaker was designed to be the most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world and will be built at Red Star shipbuilding base. The shipbuilding base was built by a consortium led by Rosneft on the basis of the Far East factory with of the same name.
It is understood that the Lider-class heavy nuclear-powered icebreaker is 205 meters long and has a full displacement of 71000 tons, 50 meters longer than the world's largest 22220 nuclear power icebreaker currently being built by Russia. The vessel will use two RITM 400 test reactors to enable it to traverse the thickest ice in the Arctic. Russia plans to build at least three nuclear-powered icebreakers of the same class.
The Lider-class icebreaker will become the first vessel in the world to be able to break ice and escort the Northeast route of the Arctic channel in all seasons. It can cut through ice layers more than four meters thick, open up a corridor 50 meters wide, and guide the fleet to sail at a speed of 10-12 nautical miles per hour. After the Lider-class icebreaker is put into operation, Russia's Northern waterway will be navigable all year long, thus ensuring that large ships such as LNG ships can sail smoothly between East and West.
Medvedev told Putin on January 15 that he would resign. President Putin suggested that Medvedev should take the post of vice-chairman of the Russian Federal Security Council, which will be responsible for improving national defense capabilities and national security affairs.