On December 26, 2019, at 2:48 PM Moscow time, the power blocks of the Leningrad NPP have fulfilled the plan set by the FAS, according to which the NPP had to deliver 28.03 kWh billion of kWh of electric power. This means that the NPP has competed its main operational goal for 2019 while fully complying with the safety standards.

The expected annual output will be 28.505 billion kWh – this is 13.6% of the total output from all Russian NPPs and 101.7% of the annual quota set by the Russian FAS.

‘Electric power output, preparations for the 2nd VVER-1200 power block launch, getting into the capacity market, upgrading the heat supply system in the city of Sosnovy Bor – we have efficiently delivered on all our commitments set by the governmental assignments in 2019’, Vladimir Pereguda, the director of the Leningrad NPP, said. ‘The new VVER-1200 power block has reached the output of 10 billion kWh and has been through its first overhaul. This is a crucial step for its safe operation’.

The construction of the 2nd VVER power block of the Leningrad NPP is in the finishing straight. ‘We are finalizing the construction, assembly, pre-commissioning and decoration works at all facilities. The reactor check assembly has verified top-notch quality of the machinery and the fact that it complies with the technical requirements’ Vladimir Pereguda noted. ‘Among the unbelievable things our team has managed to do this year is the completion of the circulation cleaning at the 6th power block, which was delivered 10 days ahead of schedule. On December 25, we have spun the turbine for the first time, and it was the most important pre-launch activity at the turbine island’.

By the end of this year, the sixth power block will face a number of other launch-related operations, those being the hydraulic test of the reactor facility’s 1st and 2nd circuits. The hot trial will follow, during which the equipment’s working capacity will be verified at the design conditions. The physical launch of the 2nd VVER power block is scheduled for Q2 2020, which will be followed by the pilot operation and the connection to the grid. The power block is to be commissioned in early 2021.

The preliminary data show that the total investments into the social benefits for the employees have increased by 18% within a year and exceeded 330 million rubles. A large portion of it – over 104.6 million rubles – was dedicated to the housing program and the financial aid to the employees. Over 2,050 NPP staff members have taken part in the corporate housing program during the last 7 years. 85% of those are young professionals. The average monthly salary has grown by 4.4% in 2019. 5,660 people are employed at the NPP.

The Leningrad NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Russia, with the total capacity of the power blocks being at 4,200 MW. It is the largest electric power producer in the Russian North-Western region, accounting for 27% of the total output. The Leningrad NPP caters for over 50% of the energy consumption in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The Leningrad NPP’s output in 2019 will be a huge contribution into the total amount of electric power generated by the Rosenergoatom Joint-Stock Company’s NPPs in 2019.