At the Rostov NPP power unit ?3 hot stage (HO) of the reactor equipment and primary and secondary circuits is running. Successful completion of the operation would mean a complete unit readiness to the top stage of physical start-up,  meaning fuel assemblies for nuclear fuel into the reactor.

  "It is necessary to perform a large range of heat-hydraulic testing, during which the unit will confirm the readiness to first criticality" - said the chief engineer of the Rostov NPP Alexey Zhukov.

As part of this large-scale process, the most important step of commissioning works, representatives of contractors and operations personnel of the Rostov NPP will hold the entire countdown test. Protection system of the first and second circuits overpressure will be tested and operation of the main circulation pumps on hot parameters of the reactor facility will be tested, the power supply system of own needs with the interrupt mode and blackout equipment unit will be checked. There will also be carried out due diligence system control and protection of the reactor plant. Tests are under specified operating parameters - primary circuit pressure of 160 kg / cm 2, the temperature of 280 degrees Celsius.

After completion of the HO in accordance with the plan of the connecting power unit to the physical start-up audit of main and auxiliary equipment of the primary and secondary circuits of the power unit will be carried out.

Builders and installers are to send "watch" for those, who are already in the near future to operate at the new multi-million unit of the Rostov NPP.

The other day power unit ?3 will be taken under protection servicemen of internal troops of the Interior Ministry, a division of carrying service for the protection of the Rostov NPP.

Start-up of the Rostov NPP power unit ?3 is scheduled for 2014.

The Rostovskaya nuclear power plant is a branch of JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom". The nuclear station is located on the bank of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir in 13,5 km from Volgodonsk. At nuclear station two power units with VVER-1000 reactors with an installed capacity of 1000 MWt are operated. The power unit No. 1 is put into commercial operation in 2001, the power unit No. 2 – in December, 2010. Current information about a radiation situation near the nuclear power plant in Russia and other objects of the nuclear industry is provided on a site www.russianatom.ru.