On 25 February, in the Neman district of Kaliningrad, the foundation stone for the Baltic NPP was laid. Baltic NPP – one of Rosatom’s most ambitious projects – will be the first plant built in the region since the Soviet era.
Government approval for the project to go ahead was given on 20 February. The first 1150MW unit should be built by 2016, the second by 2018, at an estimated cost of EUR5 billion.
According to reports in Russian-daily Vedomosti, investments will total RUR3.6billion in 2010 and RUR8 billion in 2011. Rosatom is reportedly looking for foreign investors to take up a maximum of a 49% stake in the Baltic NPP project.
Meanwhile, pre-operation testing continues at Rostov 2. On 24 February, operator Rosenergoatom reported the successful start up of the turbogenerator rotors. The reactor capacity was increased to 35% and steam was fed to the turbogenerator, which achieved 1500rmp. After obtaining heat-mechanic characteristics in accordance with algorithm of the startup operation, the turbine was stopped and reactor capacity reduced to 10%.
The next stage in the commissioning process will be electrical tests, which are expected to take several days. Afterwards, the reactor, which achieved first criticality in December, will be connected to the grid.
Related ArticlesNow waste canisters will even be made on site
