The physical start-up of the world’s first power unit of Gen III+ took place this May at Novovoronezh NPP. The appropriate license was issued by the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) taking into account the safety review performed by SEC NRS.
On March 22, 2016 Rostechnadzor granted Concern Rosenergoatom JSC (Russian utility) with license to operate nuclear installation of Unit No.1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2 (NVNPP-2).
The physical start-up of this power unit took place on May 20, 2016; it was constructed under the «AES-2006» design (VVER-1200) and belongs to new Generation III+ type reactors. Application of additional safety systems together with active regular ones is the specifics of this reactor type. The availability of such systems suggests the qualitatively new safety level of reactor, which design solutions incorporated the Fukushima-Daiichi NPP accident lessons learnt.
As established by the licensing procedure, Rostechnadzor decides to grant the license or to refuse granting taking into account the expert conclusions on safety of NPP operation that are prepared by the technical and scientific support organization – SEC NRS.
In the course of safety review in respect to Unit No.1 of NVNPP-2, SEC NRS carried out assessment of Safety Analysis Report (18 chapters), NPP unit technological procedures, design basis accident management guideline, BDBAs management guideline, QAP, NPP unit commissioning programms and other documents prescribed by the requirements in force. Almost 100 specialists in various scientific and technical areas were involved in the safety review which had been carried out for nearly two years. Issues raised in the frames of the submitted documentation review as well as Rostechnadzor inspections were also subject to discussions with the operating organization.
Contact
Denis Mistryugov, SEC NRS, mistryugov@secnrs.ru.