23.05.2008 // Information Department of Leningrad NPP/Press service of Rosenergoatom Concern

Today, May 23, Leningrad NPP stopped its 1st unit for 60-day scheduled overhaul

Today, on May 23, Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (the branch of Rosenergoatom Concern, Leningrad region) stopped its 1st unit for 60-day scheduled overhaul, says the head of the Production Department of the plant Yuri Nefyodov.

“During the overhaul we are planning to check up the safety valves of the deaerators. The valves generally produce specific claps and a small blast of steam, which is normal for all types of power plants. Steam blasts are released when the valves are opened or closed. For the employees of the plant and the residents of Sosnovy Bor such sounds are quite familiar,” says Nefyodov.

“Similar claps are produced by the high voltage switches of the distribution systems of sub-stations, when they switch off electric equipment and high voltage power transmission lines.”

“This process has no negative effect on the environment and does not change the radiation situation at the plant or in its nearby area,” says Nefyodov.

Presently, Leningrad NPP is operating three units – 2nd, 3rd and 4th reactors are operating at a total capacity of 2,960MW. The plant for May 24 is 3,010MW.

As of today all 26 stations of the plant’s automated radiation control system show that the radiation background at Leningrad NPP and in Sosnovy Bor is 0.12 microSv/h, which is normal background for the region.

Note

Since Apr 1 2002 Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant has been a branch of Rosenergoatom Concern.

The plant has four 1,000MW units with RBMK type reactors (graphite-moderated reactors). The lives of the 1st and 2nd units have been extended for 15 years. The lives of the 3rd and 4th units are supposed to be extended for 20 years.

In 2007 Leningrad NPP generated a total of 24.633bln KWh against 23.178bln KWh in 2006. The capacity factor made up 70.3% against 66.2% in 2006. In 2008 the plant is supposed to produce 29.4bln KWh.