On March 31, 2011б in Volgodonsk there were public hearings on the raw version of materials of environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Rostov NPP first power unit operation at reactor plant capacity equal to 104 per cent of the rated value.

The public discussion of the EIA project continued for 5 hours and was over late at night. Among those who took part in the discussion there were designers and specialists in the field of Rostov NPP operation, representatives of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC, state and independent environmental organizations, administration and local authorities, health care and non-governmental organizations, mass media, as well as inhabitants of the city and the region –1,500 people in all.

“We still need to increase nuclear power generation in dynamically developing South Federal District. In spite of the adequate energy supply to Rostov region inhabitants, the South of Russia is experiencing power shortages”, Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy of Rostov region administration Yevgeny Prusov emphasized. “Under the circumstances the increase of the operating unit capacity and safety, being absolute priority, become a state problem”.

Pilot operation of power unit No. 1 with reactor plant capacity increased up to 104% was preceded by modernization of the equipment and safety improvement. As explained by Deputy General Director – Director of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC branch Rostov nuclear power plant Alexander Palamarchuk , the increase of capacity was possible due to the reserves in terms of reactor plant and safety systems features, that were revealed in the course of operation. General Designer of the reactor plant OKB “GIDROPRESS” followed all safety regulations, the reactor installation was modernized in the course of scheduled maintenance. The results of modernized equipment trials meet the safety requirements.  

Analysis of environmental impact of Rostov NPP with the reactor plant operating at increased capacity in 2010 showed that the level of contaminants emissions to the atmosphere was almost 8 times less than the limit value. Upon the whole, their permanent reduction is observed – for the last year the value dropped more than three times. The capacity increase didn’t have significant influence on the thermal regime, as well as chemical composition of the cooling reservoir and the dam part of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir.

Designers and specialists in the field of Rostov NPP operation, representatives of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC answered all questions asked by Volgodonsk city and Rostov region inhabitants. The raw version of the materials of environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Rostov NPP first power unit operation at reactor plant capacity equal to 104 per cent of the rated value will be available for a month, after that the public hearings minutes and the package of proposals from the population will be submitted to the Environmental Impact Assessment authorities for integration into the final version of the EIA materials.