Russia to build first LNG-powered icebreakers for Arctic sea route

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of floating ice taken by a drone launched from Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship in the Arctic Ocean, September 15, 2020. Picture taken September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Natalie Thomas

ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) - Russia plans to build its first batch of icebreakers that are powered by liquified natural gas, a top official said on Friday, returning to an idea that was put on hold.

Russia has the world's only fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. It is building up that fleet, hoping to develop the Northern Sea Route across its northern flank into an international shipping lane as climate change melts the ice.