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The most potent Russian 3+ generation atomic power block at the Novovoronezh NPP has reached its completion stage before being commissioned

On September 10, 2016, the most potent Russian 3+ generation atomic power block at the Novovoronezh NPP entered its final phase preceding its commissioning – pilot production.

Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Russian Government, Alexey Gordeev, the governor of the Voronezh Region, along with the Rosatom State Corporation and the Rosenergoatom Concern management took part in the ceremony dedicated to the 6th power block pilot production.   

Vladimir Povarov, the Novovoronezh NPP director, has announced that the 6th power block is fully ready for pilot operations when meeting Mr. Rogozin at the block control room.

Mr. Rogozin gave the following comments on this crucial milestone: “The Novovoronezh nuclear power plant is an important place for me. It has been 20 years sharp since I came here for the first time. Then, the morale in Novovoronezh was poor, with little to no perspectives of nuclear power development. However, the situation has changed thanks to the professional persistence of those working in the atomic power industry. And now, as our country recovers, the nuclear power regains its strength, too. Despite any problems such a comprehensive facility might fact, we already have this nuclear power plant. Myself and the governor are honored to visit the new power block during its launch into pilot production. That’s an amazing event!”

It is important to note that on September 9th, the Rostechnadzor issued its approval on launching the Novovoronezh NPP’s 6th power block at its 50% capacity.

Before visiting the block control room, the guests were also welcomed at the Novovoronezh NPP’s 6th and 7th power blocks where Andrey Petrov, the Rosenergoatom Concern CEO, elaborated on the Concern’s strategic goals and on the progress of the new power blocks’ development.

Later in the day, Alexey Gordeev and Alexander Lokshin, the first deputy CEO of the Rosatom State Corporation, signed an Agreement between the Voronezh Region government and Rosatom stipulating additional tax liabilities of the latter that are designed to be invested in the Novovoronezh city development, in particular, to fund social and economic development measures. The deputy prime minister witnessed the execution of the agreement.

The Voronezh Region became the first one that entered into this contract with Rosatom in 2012. Pursuant to the agreement, during the period of 2013-2015, the Novovoronezh budget has already received an additional sum exceeding 1 billion rubles.

Alexey Gordeev thanked the deputy chairman for assisting manufacturing companies in the Voronezh Region. “The Novovoronezh NPP accounts for over 5% of our regional economy. Launching a new block, especially a 3+ generation one, which is second to none in the world in terms of safety, is something we are proud of. We are really happy about it”, he stressed.

The power launch of the 6th power block took place on August 5th, 2016 (when the generator was hooked up), and for the subsequent 145 days, 100% of its designed capacity is being opened up. The power block is to be commissioned for commercial operation in December 2016. According to special calculations, it will increase the total capacity of the Novovoronezh NPP 1.5 times, which will spur the development of the Voronezh region economy.

At the moment, the 3+ generation power blocks are being constructed in the US and France. Still, the Novovoronezh NPP’s 6th power block became the first new generation one in the world to reach the pilot production stage.




Since June 2007, the Rosenergoatom Concern has been involved in the construction of the two new generation Novovoronezh NPP’s power blocks according to the NPP-2006 project. The whole construction process is initiated in compliance with the Rosatom State Corporation action program approved by the Russian Governmental Decree No. 705 dated September 20, 2008. The project is funded from the asset contributions and the Rosenergoatom Concern’s own assets.
The Novovoronezh NPP is an affiliate company of the Rosenergoatom Concern. The plant is located on the bank of the Don river, 42 kilometers to the south of Voronezh. This is the first Russian NPP with VVER-type reactors (pressurized water type reactors). Each of the five reactors is a lead one, and all of them act as the prototypes for the serial power reactors: the 1st power block with at VVER-210 reactor, the 2nd power block with a VVER-365 reactor, the 3rd and the 4th power blocks with VVER-440 reactors, and the 5th one with a VVER-1000 reactor. The power blocks were launched operationally in 1964, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1980 respectively. At the moment, three blocks are still running (the 1st and the 2nd ones were stopped in 1984 and 1990 respectively).


The up-to-date information on the nuclear environment close to the Russian NOOs and other nuclear objects is available at www.russianatom.ru


Information and Public Relations Administration Rosenergoatom Concern JSC.
Novovoronezh NPP Information and Public Relations Administration.

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