Russia on Wednesday took a big step toward the controversial creation of the world’s first floating nuclear power station, putting a barge that will house the plant into the water.

Environmentalists say Russia’s plan to dot its northern coastline with floating nuclear power plants is risky.

The head of Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, said the plant would be “absolutely safe” and predicted “big interest from foreign customers.”

Nearly a quarter-century after the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster in Soviet Ukraine, Russia is planning to expand its own network of nuclear power plants and pursuing deals to build more abroad.