The technical support mission of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) has started working at the Leningrad NPP. The team of Russian and foreign experts responsible for different operational aspects and having extensive experience in pre-launch and startup activities will work with the Leningrad NPP staff for the next several days to solve the top-priority issues in order to ensure that the VVER-1200 power block launches timely.

The technical support mission was organized at the Leningrad NPP management’s request. At the moment, the 1st power block under construction undergoes pre-commissioning activities. During the next couple of days, the mission participants will discuss different aspects related to the nuclear power plant’s equipment in great details, including its operational launch, completing all trials and verifications, the transfer from the general contractor to the operating company, preventive maintenance and on-demand repairs, etc.

Mikhail Lizunov, the Rosenetgoatom Concern’s chief technologist at the new NPPs production availability department, said: “Our specialists have accumulated precious experience on pre-commissioning activities and on launching the power blocks of the Beloyarsk, the Rostov, and the Novovoronezh NPP, including the operational launch of their systems and the equipment. Our duty is to pass this information over to the Leningrad NPP’s management and staff, who, in turn, need to use it in the right way in order to facilitate safe and reliable operation of all the systems and the equipment.”

“The technical support mission is a great ground for opinion exchange. Learning based on other people’s experiences is a great way to avoid mistakes. We need to take into account the information we received when setting up the new power block’s operations, eradicate any possible issues, and take advantage of the best practices. The technical support mission will help us get prepared for a safe and efficient power block launch”, said Alexander Rumik, the head of the Leningrad NPP technical governance service.

Yury Yemelyanov from the Ukranian Rivne NPP noted: “The Russian specialists boast enormous and unique experience in designing, constructing, and maintaining nuclear power plants. I am especially interested in seeing the way the pre-commissioning activities are being organized at the new Leningrad NPP’s power block. I hope that our Russian colleagues might also make use of my experience in launching the 4th power block of the Rivne NPP with the VVER-1000 reactor”.

The Leningrad NPP is an affiliate company for Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC. The plant is based in the city of Sosnovy Bor, 80 km to the west from Saint Petersburg at the Gulf of Finland shore. The Leningrad NPP is the first Russian nuclear power plant having RBMK-1000 reactors (uranium-graphite channel-type thermal neutron reactors). The NPP exploits 4 power blocks with the electric capacity of 1000 megawatt each.

The substitution capabilities for the existing nuclear power plant have been in construction since 2008. Two VVER-1200 power blocks are being constructed in accordance with the NPP-2006 project.

Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC is the owner and developer of the project. Holding TITAN-2 is the primary contractor. ATOMPROEKT is the general designer.


Leningrad NPP Information and Public Relations Administration.