The first foundation stone of Rostov NPP construction site was laid on October 28, 1977. Full-scale plant construction, first called Volgodonsk NPP, started in 1979, after the seven possible sites placement thorough examination.

The necessity of the construction was caused by Rosenergo and North Caucasus power system inefficiency, which is preserved up to now.

Rostov NPP engineering project passed the examination in accordance with the established procedure, and after RSFSR Ministers Cabinet agreement was ratified by the USSR Ministry on Energy on October 13, 1979. In 1980 the project underwent the examination of the USSR State Construction. The agreements of all the interested organizations for the plant construction have been received.

Water-cooled power reactor of VVER-1000 body type was chosen for installation at Rostov NPP. The reactors of the type are ones of the safest and widely used at Russian and Ukraine NPPs. 

In the process of Rostov NPP construction, multiple inspections of its construction progress were held. The inspections were documented and prove the quality of works performed. 

In June 1990, on the wave of known post-Chernobyl spirits, Rostov region Soviet of people’s deputies took the decision stating that: “… the NPP construction in Rostov region territory at present stage shall be regarded as inadmissible.”

Based on Soviet of people’s deputies’ decision, Rostov NPP construction was stopped by the proceedings report of the meeting at Silaev I. S., RSFSR Council of Ministers Chairman, and Ryabev L. D., Deputy Chairman of RSFSR Council of Ministers. By the same report the State Council on Nature was obliged to organize an environmental assessment of the project and the constructed units of Rostov NPP in accordance with the USSR Supreme Council decree.

In execution of this decision an additional part of Rostov NPP project on the plant ecologic safety was developed – “The Assessment of RNPP Influence over Environment (EIOE)” that was passed over to the Ministry on Ecology and Natural Resources in 1992 for State environmental assessment.

In accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection, North Caucasian High School Scientific Centre and Nuclear Society International Public Unit concluded an agreement for Rostov NPP project assessment.

The regional public and scientific and ecologic expert commission included 41 men from the number of the leading and most competent scientists of different knowledge fields. According to the proposal of Rostov NPP construction opponents (Regional Civil Committee on Rostov NPP shutdown), six its representatives were included into the commission. The commission personnel was approved by the regional administration.

Having considered the project, regulatory and other materials, the commission in its final opinion recognized RNPP to be safe and meeting the requirements of the existing regulations and rules. A number of experts made some remarks (special opinions) on particular questions which can be easily removed. Only four experts from the devoted opponents of RNPP construction declared themselves strictly against the NPP, at that not a single expert was able to bring substantiated arguments discrediting the plant safety.

The regional public and scientific and ecologic expert commission’s opinion on Rostov NPP and all the experts’ special opinions were considered in Rostov region Legislative Assembly and passed over to the Russian Federation Ministry on Environment to be taken into account for State Environmental Assessment. 

Following the public and scientific assessment, a city and public assessment was organized by the city specialists and scientists at the initiative of Volgodonsk city administration. The expert commission came to the conclusions similar to those of their regional colleagues. 

State Ecologic Expert Commission was founded in 1995 under and in accordance with the Russian Federation Law on Environmental Protection (section V) and Regulation on State Environmental Assessment, approved by the Russian Federation Government Decree of 22.09.93.

The composition of State Ecologic Assessment Expert Commission of the Ministry on Environment of Russia on Rostov NPP project consideration was approved by the Ministry on Environment of Russia order No. 131 of 13.03.95.

The experts thoroughly analyzed Rostov NPP project – from the site location selection and compliance with the laws, rules and standards to the issues of population safety, environmental safety, and economic efficiency.

Based on comprehensive engineering and other materials analysis, the State Environmental Assessment Expert Commission came to the conclusion that Rostov NPP was ecologically safe. The positive conclusion is the legal basis for the plant construction resumption. On July 21, 1998 it was certified by Rostov region legislative assembly decree.

The first power unit with a reactor of VVER-type and of 1,000 MW capacity was put into operation in 2001. In 2006 Federal Agency on nuclear power took a decision on Rostov NPP second power unit construction. The schedule and stages of new Russian power units construction for the nearest five years were defined. Rostov NPP second power unit was the first on the list: the unit was half ready.

Thus, the stage of Rostov NPP power unit No. 2 transfer from testing operation to the industrial one was over.

We shall remind that on December 19, 2009 Rostov NPP power unit No. 2 physical start-up, and on March 18, 2010 power start-up took place. 

On May 17, 2010 RNPP power unit No. 2 was put into testing operation.

On June 18, 2010 it produced the first billion kWh of electric power.

On August 4, 2010, power unit No. 2 started operating at a nominal capacity level. After that it underwent dynamic testing at a 100% capacity level.

The commissioning trials at power unit No. 2 were over by October 10. However, signature of the permission for putting it into operation became possible only after adoption of the amendments into Federal Law No. 317 on Rosatom State Corporation on Nuclear Power, which came into force on December 7 of the current year and provided the Corporation with the right to issue licenses for commissioning of the units of nuclear power use.