Following a high-level meeting at Russia’s Beloyarsk NPP, it was decided that site preparation for the construction of unit 5 would begin in the summer. Engineering surveys are already under way. Beloyark 5 will comprise a BN-1200M reactor – the world’s first 1,200 MWe sodium-cooled fast neutron power unit. Beloyarsk NPP already hosts the 600 MWe (unit 3) and 800 MWe (unit 4) sodium-cooled fast reactors, which began operation in 1980 and 2015.
Attending the meeting were the chief engineer of Beloyarsk NPP, Yuri Nosov, and representatives of general contractor Atomstroyexport, headed by the Vice President for Capital Construction, Nikolai Vikhansky.
Atomstroyexport plans to begin the first work of the preparatory earthworks by the end of summer 2025. Contractors will need to remove more than 1.5m cubic metres of waste from the site, which was formed during the construction of the previous units. Specialists will also carry out logging and begin the construction of temporary buildings and structures.
“One of the key aspects requiring joint discussion and decision with the customer is the placement of a temporary camp for builders. At the moment, there are a number of options that will be submitted for discussion by managers for decision-making,” said Vikhansky.
Atomstroyexport is now conducting market research on the availability of technology and specialised organisations that will be able to perform the necessary work. At the peak of the work Atomstroyexport expects 9,000 staff to be involved on the site.
