Russia readies for launch of Leningrad and Rostov units

Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has issued operating licences for two new nuclear power units, Leningrad Phase II-1 and Rostov-4, Rosenergoatom said today. The nuclear power plant operator subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Rosenergoatom said the licences "confirm the readiness of the units for physical launch - fuel loading - in December".

The existing Leningrad plant site, in Sosnovy Bor in western Russia, has four operating RMBK-1000 units, while Leningrad II will have four VVER-1200 units. The Rostov plant is located on the banks of the Tsimlyansk reservoir, nearly 14 km (8 miles) from the city of Volgodonsk. Four 1000 MWe VVER pressurised water reactors have been planned at the Rostov site since the early 1980s. Rostov 4 is a VVER-1000/V-320 reactor.

The licences mean the units have completed the construction, installation, equipment and systems commissioning and testing stages, Rosenergoatom said. Rostechnadzor had also completed its own checks in preparation for the 'physical launch' phase, it added.

Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant Director Vladimir Pereguda said: "The operating staff at the unit are trained, certified and allowed to work independently. I am sure that the new power unit will work reliably, efficiently and, most importantly, safely, in full accordance with the project."

Commissioning of Leningrad II-1 will mean that Russia has two VVER-1200 units in operation, following the launch last year, and the start of commercial operation in February, of Novovoronezh II-1.

Rostov Nuclear Power Plant Chief Engineer Andrey Gorbunov said the commissioning phase will take 25 days. It will include the loading 163 TVS fuel assemblies, which are produced by Rosatom's nuclear fuel manufacturer TVEL.

The reactor vessel for unit 2 of the Leningrad Phase II nuclear power plant was installed on 30 November.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News