One of the key milestones has been achieved at the Leningrad NPP’s 2nd power block – the construction of the reactor building auxiliary premises to house one of the most important safety systems – the system for passive heat removal from steam generators - has been completed.

Reinforcement and concreting works have been delivered by a contracting company for 2 years. During that time, they placed around 800 cubic meters of concrete from +59.850 up to +67.500 meters. This part of the reactor building is going to house containers for emergency heat removal from steam generators, which is much higher than the equipment level, thus facilitating natural coolant circulation within the system for passive heat removal.

According to Pavel Ivanov, the lead engineer of the construction control (technical supervision) unit, Capital construction department at the Leningrad NPP-2, the construction activities for the 2nd power block’s reactor building auxiliary structures are run according to the schedule. When working on this part of the building, the primary focus is around compliance with the techniques for tiered construction of reinforced concrete monolithic structures and the quality of construction materials.

‘The auxiliary building will house separate elements of the containment and the system for passive heat removal from steam generators. This mission-critical equipment is designed to facilitate the power block’s safety in case of a non-project emergency, which is why the structures need to fully protect it from any severe external effects. This is why this facility benefits from extra strong frost-proof and water-proof concrete. The next stage is to side the walls of the four containers within the system for passive heat removal from steam generators’, Mr. Ivanov added.

According to the schedule, the construction activities for the auxiliary building have to be completed this December, prior to the trial run of the VVER-1200 reactor’s building envelope at the 2nd power block’s construction site.