The seventh and eighth VVER-1200 units at Russia’s Leningrad NPP (also known as Leningrad-II 3&4) will begin construction in 2024 and 2025. It is planned to complete the construction of new facilities in 2030 and 2032, respectively, according to Sergey Prokhor, Chief Engineer of the LNPP Capital Construction Department.
"According to the plans, the start of concreting of the seventh unit of the Leningrad NPP is June 2024, the foundation of the eighth power unit will be laid in May 2025. Phased commissioning is scheduled for 2030 and 2032," Prokhor said.
Currently Leningrad NPP has four units in operation – units 3&4 with Soviet RBMK-1000 reactors, as well units 5&6 with new VVER-1200 units. Units 5&6 replaced units 1 and 2 with RBMK-1000 reactors, which were decommissioned in 2018 and 2020. The new units 7&8 will replace units 3&4. Andrey Kiselev, head of the Leningrad NPP Treasury, explained to TASS that the gradual decommissioning of two Soviet reactors is scheduled for 2030.
Prokhor said preparations for construction are on schedule, the timing and estimates are not being adjusted because of current events. The construction of the seventh and eighth units will be carried out independently of foreign suppliers.
The general contractor for VVER-1200 units is Titan-2, which is also engaged in the construction of Rosatom facilities abroad. Prokhor said the contractor has all the necessary Western equipment and components. The construction will be carried out using "open top" technology (with an open roof) using German Liebherr cranes.
Image: The fifth and sixth VVER-1200 power units of the Leningrad NPP
