Governor of Russia’s Voronezh Region, Alexander Gusev and Director of the Novovoronezh NPP, Vladimir Povarov, have agreed to accelerate the construction of the 5th stage of the plant. Construction of power units 8&9 will begin earlier than originally planned in order to put them into operation in 2032 and 2036.
Povarov said preparations are underway. A land plot of 1,700 hectares has already been allocated for the facilities in the Kashirsky and Ostrogozhsky municipal districts.
The launch of the new units (also known as Novovornezh-II 3&4), will bring investment to the regional budget and create new jobs. Voronezh enterprises will be able to manufacture the necessary equipment. And this will stimulate the growth of industrial production.
Povarov also spoke about the development of Novovoronezh under the Agreement between Rosatom and the Government of the Voronezh Region. In 2022, the city received more than RUB400m ($4.2m) which was used to improve infrastructure.
Novovoronezh NPP was the first nuclear plant in Russia to host VVER-type reactors (light water-cooled pressurised reactors) and its reactors are leading VVER prototypes. The first power unit at the site was commissioned in 1964 (VVER-210), the second in 1969 (VVER 365), the third in 1971 (VVER-440), the fourth in 1972 (VVER-440), and the fifth in 1980 (VVER-1000). Units 1&2 were shut down in 1984 and 1990 and unit 3 in 2016.
Unit four was shut down for modernisation work and has since resumed operation, while unit 5 recently underwent an upgrade and is licensed to operate until 2035. Unit 1 of Novovoronezh II (a VVER-1200, also known as Novovoronezh 6) began commercial operation in February 2017 and unit 2 (Novovoronezh 7) in November 2019. By 2040 units 4&5 at Novovoronezh are scheduled for closure and it is planned that at least one new unit with a VVER-1200 reactor will begin operating in the mid-2030s as part of stage 5 of the NPP.
Image: Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (courtesy of Rosatom)
