Kursk II-2 core catcher arrives on site

A core catcher, or core melt trap, is a device provided to catch the molten core material - corium - of a reactor in case of a meltdown and prevent it from escaping the containment building. Rosatom said the equipment is "a unique development by Russian nuclear scientists and one of the most important nuclear safety systems".

Rostislav Kimlik, deputy chief engineer of capital construction at the Russian state nuclear corporation, said the core catcher of Kursk II has been "adapted to the site conditions and safety requirements, and has increased seismic resistance, hydrodynamic and impact strength, as well as flood protection and a simplified installation technology".

The device consists of three parts, which will be joined together on-site by the second half of December and then installed in the reactor building.

The 1255 MWe VVER-TOI - described by Petrov as Russia's "most advanced" modern nuclear reactor - is a Generation III+ power unit and was developed using technical results from the VVER-1200 project. The design offers improved safety measures, including an increased margin of safety from extreme impacts and ability to withstand earthquakes, and is equipped with modern control systems and diagnostics, Rosatom has said.

Kursk II will also be the first Russian nuclear power plant to have a digital automated system for managing costs and scheduling during the construction process.