02.11.2007 // Interfax

The construction of 5th unit of Beloyarsk NPP may be finished in 2018–2020

The construction of the 5th unit of Beloyarsk NPP (Sverdlovsk region) with BN-1800 (fast breeder) reactor may be started right after the launch of the 4th unit in 2012 and finished in 2018–2020.

To remind, on Thursday the head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko, the representative of the President to Ural Federal District Pyotr Latyshev and the minister of industry, energy and science of Sverdlovsk region Vladimir Molchanov visited Beloyarsk NPP.

The Information Policy Department of Sverdlovsk region reports that the 5th unit is already being designed. “It will be easier to build it as the infrastructure we have constructed on the BN-800 site is meant for two units,” says the Department.

Kiriyenko, Latyshev and Molchanov visited the construction site of the 4th BN-800 unit. The unit is to be launched in 2012. The total cost of the project is 60bln RUR.

This year the Russian Government has allocated over 5bln RUR for the project. In 2008 the project will get even more.

Some 700 people are working on the site, at present. The project is carried out by 30 organizations from four regions of Russia. In 2008 the number of workers will be increased to 3,000 and in “peak” 2011 – to 7,000.

BN-800 is an innovative project – it is the next step in the development of the fast breeder reactor technology allowing to form a closed nuclear fuel cycle and to solve global problems, particularly, to use natural uranium, at least, 50 times more efficiently and to treat radioactive waste.

The general contractor of BN-800 is Uralenergostroy (Sverdlovsk region), the general designer — Atomenergoproekt (St.Petersburg), the general constructor — OBKM (Nizhniy Novgorod), the key suppliers of equipment — ZiO Podolsk and Leningrad Metal Plant.

Beloyarsk NPP is the only Russian plant operating fast breeder BN-600 reactor (600 MW). The 4th unit will have a capacity of 800 MW. The first two units of Beloyarsk NPP with ABM-100 and ABM-200 reactors have been decommissioned.