The construction of Novovoronezh NPP 2 continues ‘in accordance with the timetable,’ Rosatom said in a 22 July statement.

The two VVER-1200 reactors, being built in the European part of Russia near the river Don, have recently entered their fourth and fifth years of construction. They are expected to start operation in 2014 and 2016.

At unit 1, where first nuclear concrete occurred in June 2008, concreting of the containment dome is underway and due for completion by September. Construction of the passive heat removal system for unit 1 is also ongoing, Rosatom said.

Meanwhile, at unit 2, the assembly of the support structure in the reactor hall has been finished, and a 220-tonne capacity bridge crane has been installed in the turbine hall. This will ‘shortly’ be used to assemble heavy equipment such as the moisture separators and reheaters, according to Rosatom. In August, electrical cables are due to be installed at the plant.

Rosatom also announced two new contract developments relating to the Novovoronezh 2 plant.

First, it said that the Czech company Sigma Group has been awarded a EUR2 million contract for the delivery of pumping units for emergency supply of boron for Novovoronezh-2 unit 2.

In the ‘near future’, contracts with other Czech companies Arako (for supply of control valves) and ARMATURY Group (for supply of fittings and ball valves) are also expected, Rosatom said.


Photo: The VVER-1200 design is one of the contenders for the Temelin tender in Czech Republic, and is also under construction at Leningrad II and Baltic NPP in Russia (Source; Rosatom)