The construction of the first block of fan cooling towers for unit 3 of Russia’s Rostov NPP has been completed, the plant said on 5 October. Fan cooling towers are suitable for the hot summer conditions in the south of Russia, to ensure stable operation of the main equipment and to increase the safety and reliability.

“Four blocks of fan cooling towers measuring 16×46 metres are being built on the site. The construction readiness of the first block is 100%, the entire complex is 50% complete,” said Alexey Fedotov, Deputy Director for Capital Construction at Rostov NPP. The construction schedules are being met and the cooling towers will be put into pilot operation on time – in 2021, he added. 

Work on the construction of the ventilated cooling towers began at the end of September 2019. Construction is carried out by the flow method. First, one block is built with all the communications, then the second, third and fourth.  Rostov NPP, the southernmost of Russia’s NPPs, accounts for about 30% of the output of the United Energy System (UES) of the South. Rostov NPP comprises four VVER-1000 reactor units which began operation between 2001 and 2018.