31.01.2008 // Information Department of Leningrad NPP

Exhibition dedicated to 35th anniversary of launch of 1st unit of Leningrad NPP set off in Sosnovy Bor Museum of Glory on Jan 30 2008

This year Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant and its satellite city, Sosnovy Bor, are celebrating their 35th birthdays. Born due to Leningard NPP, Sosnovy Bor is now facing new development prospects due to the launch of the LNPP-2 project, a new nuclear power plant to be built near the city in the framework of the federal target program for the development of the nuclear industry of Russia in 2007–2015.

While opening the exhibition, the director of the Museum of Glory Z.Manko pointed out that it was very important for the residents of Sosnovy Bor: “In 1960, just like today, the North-Western region was short of energy and over 40 years ago, just like today, our authorities made a wise decision to build a nuclear power plant.”

Many of the constructors and former managers of Leningrad NPP attended the exhibition. A.Yeprin, the director of the plant in 1983–1996, pointed out the self-sacrifice and devotion of his subordinates. “Most of them were already experienced workers when they came here. We were a highly efficient and responsible team and we actively cooperated with the local authorities. Our key goal was to preserve the traditions of Minsredmash, particularly, to create favorable labor conditions and to cultivate safety culture and responsibility among our workers. We also cared for their housing conditions: 20% of our budget was spent on the construction of boiler, kindergartens, schools, culture palace, sports complexes.”

The deputy director of Leningrad NPP M.Karrask told the guests about the prospects of the city and the ongoing activities under the LNPP-2 project.

The veterans were happy to learn that the city they had built with their own hands had so good prospects. The former head of the Production Department of the plant M.Shavlov said: “When speaking of the plant, one can’t but remember its first director, Valentin Muravyov: his high professionalism, responsibility and excellent managerial skills laid firm foundations for the safe and efficient performance of the plant.” Despite his old age Shavlov had excellent memory: he remembered the whole biography of Muravyov and even most of the technical problems he dealt with when heading the production department.

Quite imperceptibly the official ceremony turned into friendly talk. The schoolchildren asked questions, the veterans remembered stories from their youth. The plant’s record keeper T.Basalayeva said: “I remember our first building. I was ushered into a big room and saw a woman. It was Y.Vasina, the secretary of the director. The deputy director, I.Soldatov, was sitting near the window. I was seated near him.”

Balasayeva was the one of the first people who came to build the plant.

The veterans watched the pictures and remembered the people in them: “These are our first inspectors, this is our first director, this is our first tent-office.”

Besides the pictures the organizers presented metal mock-ups of the plant and the reactor, the banner of the winner of Socialist competition, lots of certificates and awards, old radiation dose meters and many other valuables objects. On behalf of the veterans, N.Kashin expressed hope that the Sosnovy Bor authorities would build a museum of the city’s history some day and that all those objects would be placed there.

Nadezhda Mikheyeva