18.02.2008 // Information Department of Leningrad NPP

The fourth group of employees of Territorial Power Generating Company #1 visited Leningrad NPP on Feb 15 2008

It is the leading producer and supplier of electric and thermal energy in North-Western region of Russia

After visiting the control board of unit 1 and the central hall of unit 2, the guests, the specialists of Vasileostrovskaya TPP-7 of Nevsky branch (St.Petersburg and Leningrad region) of Territorial Power Generating Company #1 Aleksey Shamanov, Sergey Beliayev and Aleksey Udin shared their impressions.

— Why are you interested in Leningrad NPP?

— We had visited thermal power plants. They are all alike. But we had never visited a nuclear power plant. We just wanted to see how it worked, to see a reactor. We have been impressed with the size of your turbines, with your cleanness and order: everything is so beautiful.

— Which of the plants are more promising: nuclear or thermal. Can they be compared at all?

— Each type of power plant has its positive and negative aspects. Of course, they can be compared. Their potentials are almost equal.

— What negative aspects do nuclear power plants have?

— Nuclear waste. But in general they are quite safe for the environment.

— Does St.Petersburg need new nuclear power plant – I mean Leningrad NPP-2?

— Of course, it does. A new plant will give the city more electricity and will help it to develop more dynamically.

— In the last 30 years Leningrad NPP has proved its efficiency and safety, hasn’t it?

— Yes, it has. The Chernobyl accident was a warning that we had to do something to make nuclear power plants safer. Today, Leningrad NPP is much safer than it was in the past. It has been significantly upgraded and has new safety systems, which respond to any problem automatically.

— What must we do to involve more people in the construction of Leningrad NPP-2?

— You must offer them housing and wages. Our electricians and repairers get 20,000 RUR a month. Our company tries to help them. Particularly, they are drafting a housing program. 

Olga Petrova