On the eve of the Day of Nuclear Worker, Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) issued license for operation of the power unit №5 of the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant for 10 years, until 2025, to the Joint Stock Company "Russian Concern for the production of electricity and thermal energy in nuclear power plants" (JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom").

The power unit №5 of the Novovoronezh NPP with VVER-1000 reactor was put into operation in May 1980. Design life is 30 years. The power unit №5 was stopped for modernization in order to extend its lifetime on September 25, 2010.

In the course of modernization, which lasted almost a year, a large volume of works, associated with an increase of security at the unit, was done. There was also replaced a significant part of thermo-mechanical and electrical equipment.

As a result of performed works security system pf the power unit № was upgraded and increased substantially, according to an in-depth assessment of the security. All works were performed in accordance with the recommendations of the IAEA and Russian regulations. As a result, the power unit and its security level correspond to blocks of the third generation and may be in operation for another 30 years.

In 2011, Rostekhnadzor, in accordance with existing rules and regulations, issued a license for operation of the power unit №5 Novovoronezh during 5 more years.

After the expiration of five years, Rostekhnadzor found it possible to grant a license for using the unit for another 10 years, decision was based on studies of the resource of the reactor vessel and other systems and equipment

The Novovoronezh nuclear power plant is a branch of the JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom". The station is located on the bank of the Don River in 42 km to the south of Voronezh. It is the Russia's first nuclear power plant with VVER reactors (water-to-water power reactors of case type with regular water under pressure). Each of five reactors of the station can be a main one – a prototype of serial power reactors: the power unit No. 1 with the VVER-210 reactor, the power unit No. 2 with the VVER-365 reactor, the No. 3, 4 power units with the VVER-440 reactors, the power unit No. 5 with the VVER-1000 reactor. The first power unit was launched in 1964, the second – in 1969, third – in 1971, fourth – 1972, fifth – 1979. There are three power units (power units No.1, 2 were stopped in 1984 and 1990 respectively) in work at the moment.

Average values of radiation background correspond to level of natural background values in the Central European Part of Russia in settlements of a 30-km zone round the Novovoronezhskaya nuclear power plant.

Updated шnformation about radiation situation near the nuclear power plants in Russia and other objects of the nuclear industry is provided on a site www.russianatom.ru.