Russian PM urges long-term plan for nuclear ice-breaker fleet

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's prime minister has instructed the state nuclear corporation Rosatom to draw up a long-term plan for the development of the country's nuclear-powered ice-breaker fleet, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Vladimir Putin told Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko the plan should cover a period of more than 15 years.

He added that the plan should take into account Russia's development program for the Arctic, now that the nuclear ice-breaker fleet has moved under Rosatom's control.

Kiriyenko briefed the prime minister on the implementation of a long-term development plan for the sector, assuring him that all of the 2008 targets would be met.

Russia has undertaken two Arctic expeditions - to the Mendeleyev underwater chain in 2005 and to the Lomonosov ridge last summer - to support Russian territorial claims to the region.

Moscow said earlier it would submit documentary evidence to the UN on the external boundaries of the Russian Federation's territorial shelf in 2009.

Under international law, the five Arctic Circle countries - the United States, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia - each currently have a 322-km (200-mile) economic zone in the Arctic Ocean.