At Leningrad NPP, the Committee of the Federal Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostekhnadzor) has started the targeted testing of the VVER-1200 power unit No 1 readiness for the beginning of physical launch.

The testing is conducted in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. While handing the official documents on the testing to the Manager of Leningrad NPP Vladimir Pereguda, the Committee chairman Vladislav Manakov, the Deputy Head of Rostekhnadzor Department for Safety Regulation of Nuclear Plants and Research Nuclear Installations, said, “This stroke of a pen opens a new milestone in the life cycle of Leningrad NPP power units.”

The experts in asuch areas as construction supervision, licensing, engineering and manufacturing of equipment, and nuclear and radiation safety were involved in the work of the Rostekhnadzor Committee.

The tests that started will last for two weeks and will be the large-scale. The Committee will examine a considerable amount of documents, including certificates of operational readiness for the starting power unit’s buildings and premises, readiness certificates from working commissions for technological systems and equipment, test reports of safety and safety related systems, documents confirming the volume of tests and checks and so on. Particular attention will be paid to the issues of the staff availability of the nuclear power plant, its professional training and qualification.

Based on the results of the targeted testing, the Federal Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision Service will give an independent assessment of the readiness of the VVER-1200 power unit No 1 for the start of physical launch, during which new assemblies with fresh nuclear fuel will be loaded into the new, most powerful Leningrad NPP reactor’s core.

The launch of the Leningrad NPP VVER-1200 power unit is scheduled for 2017.