14.12.2006 // Information-analytical center of Kursk NPP

On Dec 12 the management of Kursk NPP gave press-conference on the occasion of the plant’s forthcoming 30th anniversary

In Dec 2006 Kursk NPP marks the 30th anniversary of its launch. On Dec 12 the management of Rosenergoatom’s branch “Kursk NPP” gave a press-conference.

Deputy Director General of Rosenergoatom and Director of the Kursk NPP Y. Slepokon, Chief Engineer A. Uvakin, deputy directors of the KNPP A.Gryaznov and V.Kurantov, Director of the KNPP in 1968–1975 Y.Voskresensky as well as the mayor of the town of Kurchatov Y.Kosyrev took part in the press-conferenceThe management of the KNPP appeared before representatives of the biggest printed and electronic mass media of the Kursk region, the regional offices of the federal news agencies and newspaper.

“For 30 years our plant has been working stably and effectively and has been uninterruptedly supplying the economy of Central Chernozemye with cheap and ecologically clean energy. Today, 30 years after its launch the first unit of the plant still works at full rate,” the Director of the Kursk NPP Y.Slepokon said.

He told the journalists about the construction of the KNPP and the launch of its first unit, about the specialists who laid the foundations of the plant’s safe operation. Slepokon said a lot of good words about the constructors and operators of the plant, who have made it one of the biggest NPP in Russia. He gave many examples of the importance of the plant for the Kursk region and of its role in the life of Kurchatov. He pointed out that the KNPP is ecologically safe: the radiation background in the nearby area is the same as it was before the construction and the launch of the plant.

While speaking of safety, Slepokon pointed to the results of the 1993–2004 upgrading of the plant’s first generation units. “The modernization has allowed us to continue operating the 1st and 2nd units at their full capacity,” Slepokon said and noted that Nov 4 2004 is a historic date – on that day the capacity of the first unit of the KNPP was restored.

Now the nuclear power sector is experiencing renaissance. The President of Russia has instructed the nuclear power engineers to increase the share of the sector in the total energy production from 16% to 30%. The Government has adopted a federal target program “Development of the Nuclear Power Industry of Russia in 2007–2010 and till 2015.”

“The personnel of the Kursk NPP is ready to make its contribution to the fulfillment of the Government’s tasks,” Slepokon said.

The other participants in the press-conference spoke about the formation and development of security traditions, about the prospects of the NPP and the regional importance of the plant.

The journalists were mostly interested in the construction of the 5th unit, the use of the plant’s industrial site for further development, the prospects of Kurchatov. They received exhaustive answers to all of their questions.

The press-conference was followed by the awarding of the winners of the regional journalist competition “Clean Energy.” The competition has been held since 2003 by the KNPP in cooperation with the Committee on Information and Press of the Kursk region and the Kursk Union of Journalists. A total of 30 journalists won the competition in the previous years. This year there are 16 laureates.

The ceremony was followed by the presentation of books about the Kursk NPP, its history and personnel. Veterans of the plant and the authors of the new books attended the ceremony.