At unit 1 of the Leningrad NPP Phase Two (LNPP-II), concreting of the outer containment dome (OCD) of the reactor building has been completed, according to the principal contractor for the plant construction, Titan-2. Two VVER-1200 nuclear units are under construction at the site.
The concreting work was done by Metrostroy. Concrete grout was applied to the dome continuously during one day. It was delivered by tower crane in a special vessel. A total of 120 cubic metres of concrete were poured. The outer containment is designed to protect the reactor against natural and man-induced external impacts, including earthquake, tornado, and aircraft crash. High strength rebars and high-grade concrete were used, Titan-2 noted. Concreting of the turbine foundations was completed at unit 1 earlier in May. Some 90 square metres were concreted under five process equipment items of the turbine set.
LNNP-II is also making preparations to receive dummy fuel assemblies (simulation core) for unit 1. Andrey Kolychev, head of nuclear safety and security said before the assemblies could be loaded "several mandatory conditions" needed to be met. These include commissioning the fresh fuel storage facility. Construction work must be completed and the crane must be accepted for operation, Kolychev explained. The crane, which will be used to install equipment, and to transport and store fresh fuel, is currently being prepared for tests with a view to commissioning in the second quarter of 2016.
Start-up of LNNP-II unit 1 is planned for 2017, after which decommissioning of the existing Leningrad NPP will begin. Meanwhile, at unit 2 of the existing plant nuclear utility Rosenergoatom plans to replace 150 pressure tubes to support works to restore lifetime performance of the RBMK-1000 reactor. The initial (maximum) contract price has been set at RUB216.2m ($3.3m). The contract is to be signed at the beginning of July and the work is due by December.
In 2014, Leningrad 2 underwent lifetime performance recovery of the reactor graphite. This, along with replacement of pressure tubes, ensures that the RBMK-1000 reactor components’ lifetime complies with regulations and the reactor can continue to operate.
Rosenergoatom also plans to replace 50 pressure tubes at unit 1. The initial (maximum) contract price has been set up at RUB62.9m and a contract should be agreed by 23 June. Leningrad 1 underwent lifetime performance recovery of its reactor components in 2013 and 2014-2015. In-core monitoring of Leningrad 1 and 2 showed the need to replace 50 pressure tubes to enable continued operation in 2016-2017. However, the unit is expected to begin decommissioning in 2018. Earlier this year, Plant Manager Vladimir Pereguda visited the Pilot Demonstration Centre for Decommissioning Uranium-Graphite Reactors (PDC UGR) at Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) site to study the technologies used, especially, "experience in managing solid and liquid radioactive waste, and most important, irradiated graphite", he said.
Leningrad NPP invested RUB2.8bn ($43m) in development of the existing NPP and LNPP-II in the first quarter of 2016, the plant said on 13 May. During that period, the plant has produced electricity worth RUB9.7bn, up 2.9% on the first quarter of 2015. According to a report sent by the financial and economic service of Leningrad NPP to the government of Leningrad Region, staff numbers at the plant has increased by 25.5%, to 6,046 in the first quarter says that during the first quarter of 2016 the people.
