Novovoronezh NPP marks the birthday of its 5th unit

30.05.2008 // Information Department of Novovoronezh NPP/Press service of Rosenergoatom Concern

Novovoronezh NPP is marking the birthday of its 5th unit

On May 30 1980 at 11:45 PM Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant launched the 14th turbine generator of its 5th unit.

On Dec 24 1980 the unit produced its first billion of KWh. On Feb 20 1981 the reactor reached 3000MW thermal capacity.

Since its launch the first Soviet 1,000MW WWER reactor has generated 151.220bln KWh.

During today’s meeting the director of Novovoronezh NPP V.Vikin congratulated his staff on the birthday of the 5th unit. He pointed out that it was the basic WWER-1000, the prototype of the WWER-1000 reactors built at Balakovo, Volgodonsk and Kalinin NPPs (Russia), South-Ukrainian and Zaporizhia NPPs (Ukraine), Temelin NPP (the Czech Republic) and Kozloduy NPP (Bulgaria).

Since its launch the unit has been substantially modernized. The experience of the local personnel has been used by their colleagues from the other Russian NPPs operating WWER-1000 reactors.

The partner inspections carried out by the World Association of Nuclear Operators and other international organizations in the field of operation, maintenance, engineering support, radiation safety, chemistry and administration have shown that the 5th unit is safe and efficient. The experts have even recommended the unit’s experience for use at other NPPs.

In 2010 the service period of the 5th unit will expire but it has a big strength reserve and will in no way be shut down. Just like the other similar reactors, it will be modernized in order to operate for many years more. Presently, a number of Russian research and development companies and foreign experts are preparing necessary materials for the modernization.

In 2001–2002 Novovoronezh NPP extended the lives of its 3rd and 4th units. So, we are sure that the life of the 5th unit will also be prolonged and it will give our country hundreds of billions of KWh.