On March 21 Р April 8 the representative of 5 countries Р Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Belarus Р will undertake a training session at the Novovoronezh NPP to study the technological characteristics of VVER-1200 project and different aspects of NPP safety regulations.

ТThose specialists represent the regulating authorities overseeing NPP safe operations, just what Rostechnadzor does in RussiaУ, Sergey Nistratov, the Head of International cooperation department, has explained.

The training is split into three weeks. During the first week, the trainees will gain theoretical knowledge of the VVER-1200 project used in the construction of the Novovoronezh NPPХs 6th and 7th power blocks. The NPPХs personnel training center instructors will present this course.


The second week curriculum covers the aspects of safe operation of an NPP. The representatives of the Don Interregional Territorial Administration on Nuclear and Radiation Safety Control will deliver lectures on the topic.

The third phase pre-supposes several reference visits to the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant power blocks.
Here the inspectors are going to witness that the 6th power block with its innovative security systems is fully ready for launch.

ТThe countries our trainees represent do not have any nuclear power plants of their own yet. Currently four of them are having negotiations on nuclear power plant construction based on the Russian design. Meanwhile, the two power blocks with VVER-1200 reactors are being constructed in Belarus, with the first one planned for launch in 2018У, said Sergey Nistratov.

The Belarusian specialists have been trained at the Novovoronezh NPP since the moment the plans on the Belarusian NPP construction were announced in 2011. Over 90 representatives of the Republic of Belarus have visited the Novovoronezh NPP during the last 5 years. 8 of those visits were a part of pre-graduation and on-the-job internships for the Belarusian National Technical University students (BNTU). The representatives of the Belarusian supervisory authority have paid four visits. Additionally, the Novovoronezh NPP personnel training center has carried out 3 trainings for the employees of the Belarusian NPP currently under construction.

A month ago, the students supposed to work at the Belarusian NPP have completed their internship in Novovoronezh. Moreover, another internship for over 250 specialists of this station is to start in April.

The Novovoronezh NPP is an affiliate company for Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC. The plant is located at the Don bank 42 km to the south from Voronezh. This plant is the first Russian NPP operating VVER-type reactors (water- moderated water-cooled pressure vessel reactors with light water under pressure). Each of the 5 reactors is the head one, serving as a prototype for the serial power reactors: power block No. 1 operating VVER-210 reactors, power block No.2 operating VVER-365 reactors, power blocks No. 3 and 4 operating VVER-440, power block No.5 operating VVER-1000 reactor. The first power block was launched in 1962, with the other four to follow in 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1980 respectively.

At the moment, three power blocks are still operating (power blocks No.1 and No.2 were stopped in 1984 and 1990 respectively).

Since June 2007, Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC has been involved in the construction of the two new-generation Novovoronezh NPP power generation plants based on the NPP-2006 project as the owner and the developer. The construction is funded at the expense of Rosenergoatom and the asset contribution. VVER-1200 reactor units will operate at the new Novovoronezh NPP blocks.

The VVER-1200 RU project complies with all Russian and international security standards. Its main differentiator is the improved security system that makes the projectХs security parameters second to none.

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

Novovoronezh NPP Information and Public Relations Administration.