The innovative Novovoronezh NPP power block No.6 might achieve its minimum controllable power level early May 2016, as the plant’s director Vladimir Povarov reported at the daily briefing on April 21.

Reaching the critical condition and physical tests at the minimum controllable power level mark the final stage of the Novovoronezh NPP power block No.6 physical startup.

At this stage, the controlled fission chain reaction starts when a neutron flux is fixed while the reactor’s capacity does not even reach 1%.

During the meeting, Andrey Petrov, the Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC Chief Executive Officer, expressed confidence that the team will do its best to get the reactor unit ready for the critical condition timely.

“We are swamped at the moment, as we need to ensure full compliance with the Rostechnadzor’s terms by April 27th in order to obtain a license for the reactor being launched at the minimum controllable power. Our team at the Rosenergoatom headquarters and the plant focus on it”, said the head of the Concern.

The meeting participants, including Valeriy Limarenko, the head of the ASE Group of companies, have had a walk over the power block No.6 and have inspected the startup facilities, including the reactor building, the machine hall, the modular pumping station, and the backup power supply building.

“Our primary goal is to attain the minimum controllable power level in May. We work as a single team, and there is no doubt that we will complete the mission”, said Mr. Limarenko.

The next phase following the physical startup is a steam to a turbine (reaching the planned turbine-generator rotors’ idling speed), one of the most critical parts of the power startup.

Novovoronezh NPP reactor unit No.6 is a standard new-generation 3+ Russian NPP project with the advanced technical and economic parameters. It was constructed based on the NPP-2006 design with the VVER-1200 reactor unit. The project takes advantage of the decades-long experience in secure and accident-free NPP operation with VVER reactor units. The contemporary design incorporates the requirements towards the scientific and technical documentation in Russia and IAEA recommendations.

Since June 2007 Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC has been involved into 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 carried out in accord-ance with the operational program of the national nuclear corporation ROSATOM enacted by the Government of the Russian Federation in the Resolution No. 705 dated September 20, 2008, and is funded at the expense of Rosenergoatom and the asset contribution. VVER-1200 reactor units will operate at the new LM NPP blocks.

The specifics of the innovative power generation unit is that it combines the passive security systems with the traditional active ones. The design caters for earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, and aircraft crash protection. Pursuant to the new security standards, the reactor room has a double protective cover; the reactor bulk has a “trap” for active zone fusion underneath it, and the power generation unit is equipped with a passive residual heat removal system. All of those technical improvements raise the nuclear power plant No.6 to a brand new security level.

The VVER-1200 RU project complies with all Russian and international security standards. Its main differentiator is the improved security system that makes the project’s security parameters second to none. The construction general contractor is JSC "NIAEP" – JSC ASE “Atomenergoproject”, the general designer - JSC “Atomenergoproject”, the general reactor unit designer – OKB “GIDROPRESS”.

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.