21.12.2006 // Information-analytical Center of Kursk NPP

On Dec 19 2006 Kursk NPP marked its 30th jubilee. On that day the plant was granted a license prolonging the service period of its 1st unit.

The launch of this unit in 1976 gave a start to the work of one of the biggest NPPs in Russia. Today, 30 years after its launch, the upgraded unit meets the highest national and international safety standards. The license of Rostekhnadzor allows the plant to operate its 1st unit till Dec 19 2016.

The head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko has sent a message of congratulation to the personnel of the plant.

— Three decades of the selfless work of the Kursk nuclear power engineers was a big stage in the history of Russia’s nuclear power sector, says Kiriyenko. The high professionalism of the personnel has ensured the plant’s effective and safe operation for the benefit of our Fatherland.

Kiriyenko notes that the experience of KNPP is a pledge of future achievements of the nuclear power industry and inspires hope that the sector will successfully fulfill the Government’s task for increasing the share of nuclear energy in the country’s energy balance.

While opening the jubilee meeting in Kurchatov, Director of KNPP Yuri Slepokon expressed deep gratitude to the pioneers of the plant, the leaders of the region and the managers of the industry for their joint services to the plant.

Deputy Head of Rosatom Andrey Malyshev noted that Kursk NPP has successfully resolved a whole complex of technical problems and can look forward to the future with confidence. He highly evaluated the huge volume of work carried out at the 1st and 2nd units and pointed out that this work has made possible the prolongation of their service period.

Director General of Rosenergoatom Sergey Obozov spoke about past and future victories. He presented Slepokon with a symbolical statuette – Nuclear Nike, the symbol of future victories.

— For us KNPP is a highly-intellectual team successfully mastering advanced technologies, one of the flagships of scientific-technical progress, the governor of Kursk region Alexander Mikhaylov said. We hope that the plant will assume the active role of catalyst of scientific-technical development in the region.

In conclusion, Technical Director of Rosenergoatom Nikolay Sorokin handed Director of KNPP Yuri Slepokon a license prolonging the service period of the 1st unit till Dec 19 2016.

The meeting was followed by festivities in the House of Culture of Kurchatov.

Attending the festivities were a delegation of Rosenergoatom comprising General Inspector Erik Pozdyshev, deputy general directors Oleg Sarayev and Jumberi Tkebuchava, NPP directors Alexander Palamarchuk (Volgodonsk NPP), Yuri Kolomtsev (Kolsk NPP), Vyacheslav Vikin (Novovoronezh NPP), Andrey Petrov (Balakov NPP).

Note

Kursk NPP has 4 units with a total capacity of 4mln KW. It satisfies half of the electricity demand of the Chernozemye and the biggest energy system of Central Russia. Since its launch the plant has produced over 580bln KW/h. Last year the plant produced 27bln KW, which was 1.5 times more than in 2001. In 1990–2004 the 1st and 2nd units were modernized. The results of the modernization has been recognized worldwide. It raised the plant’s capacity by 600 MW.