Russia Wants To Build LNG-Carrying Submarines
The article discusses Russia's ambitious plan to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to revolutionize energy logistics.
On February 21, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed further details about Russia’s ambitious plan to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic to Asia. This project, a collaboration between the Kurchatov Institute and Gazprom, aims to revolutionize energy logistics by bypassing traditional shipping routes and geopolitical challenges. The article discusses Russia's ambitious plan to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to revolutionize energy logistics.
The project had been presented originally at the OMR 2024 forum devoted to development of shipping and high-tech equipment for the Arctic by the president of the Kurchatov Institute, Mikhail Kovalchuk. The proposed submarines would be massive, measuring 360 meters in length and 70 meters in width, with a capacity to carry around 180,000 tons of LNG. Powered by three RITM-200 nuclear reactors, these vessels would be capable of operating year-round, even during the harsh Arctic winter months when sea ice renders many traditional shipping lanes impassable.
The difficulty lies in the fact that even the most powerful LNR carriers rely on icebreaker support in winter navigation, which increases the cost of transportation. A nuclear-powered LNG subsea vessel would provide accelerated year-round transportation from the fields to the transshipment points regardless of weather and climate conditions. This would significantly reduce transit times along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from 20 days to just 12 days, providing a more reliable and efficient means of transporting LNG. The concept of such technology is not totally unheard of, as General Dynamics Corp., a major defense contractor, proposed in 1981 to build a fleet of submarine tankers to carry LNG. In 2019, Dmitry Sidorenkov, head of engineering with Malachite Design Bureau in St. Petersburg presented a concept study for a nuclear-powered submarine tanker to Strana Rosatom, the newspaper of Russia’s state nuclear corporation.
Proponents of the project argue that these nuclear-powered submarines would enhance security and efficiency in Artic LNG transportation, offering a cost-effective alternative to pipelines and surface carriers as sailing under the ice is cheaper than crushing through. A small fleet of such submarines could transport quantities of gas equivalent to a subsea pipeline, further solidifying Russia’s position as a major energy supplier.
Critics, such as Alexander Nikitin from the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center, question Russia’s ability to build such submarines, citing the need for advanced engineering, specialized crews, and significant infrastructure for servicing and docking. Additionally, there are concerns about the environmental and safety risks associated with transporting nuclear-powered submarines laden with LNG beneath the Arctic ice. That being said Russia has been clear this project is still in its earlier stages thus making Nikitin’s accusations more of a kneejerk reaction.
Russia's plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic to Asia is a strategic move that reflects the complex interplay of energy geopolitics. This ambitious project, endorsed by President Vladimir Putin, aims to bypass traditional shipping routes and geopolitical challenges, thereby enhancing Russia's energy security and its position as a major global energy supplier.
By Russia leveraging its Arctic assets and technological expertise, it seeks to secure alternatives and more efficient means of transporting LNG, which could significantly reduce transit times and enhance operational security through innovative means of evolving energy logistics.