Beloyarsk NPP marks 40th anniversary of launch of its 2nd unit

28.12.2007 // Nuclear.Ru

On Dec 29 Beloyarsk NPP is marking the 40th anniversary of the launch of its 2nd unit with AMB-200 reactor

The unit with a 200MW fast-breeder reactor was launched in 1967. It was the first unit in the Soviet Union to have a one circuit coolant circulation system, which meant higher efficiency and better performance. AMB-200 was in service till 1989 and produced a total of 22.24bln KWh.  

Presently, the unit is being decommissioned. The spent fuel has already been removed from the reactor and is being stored in a special cooling pond. After decommissioning the equipment of the unit will be destroyed while the buildings will be used towards production. The plant is preparing for transporting the spent fuel to a long-term storage facility. The fuel will be transported in special containers and carriages.

Beloyarsk NPP was the first nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union. It is the only plant with different types of reactors. It has three units: two with AMB-100 and AMB-200 water-cooled graphite-moderated channel-type reactors (stopped in 1981 and 1989, respectively) and the operating 3rd unit with BN-600 (fast-breeder) reactor (launched on Apr 8 1980). This unit is the prototype of the 4th BN-800 unit, which is presently under construction.