The commissioning works phase has begun at the power unit No 2 of Novovoronezh NPP-2 (dispatching name – power unit No 7 of Novovoronezh NPP).

Commissioning works are the final phase of a NPP unit construction; they provide the basis for the safety of its further operation. During the process equipment testing, all the main systems of the power unit are turned on and tested.

This phase is preceded by the auxiliary power supply. Electric power enters the main building and the building of electrical devices to work inside the electrical equipment.

 “Today everyone is focused on the implementation of the main control task – the beginning of the flushing into an open reactor. This event is scheduled for the end of 2018”, Oleg Borodin, the Construction Director of the Novovoronezh branch of Atomenergoproekt JSC, said stressing that all works on the site are in accordance with the schedule.

Currently 2.5 thousand workers from 12 large contract organizations are working at the construction site.

The commissioning phase is important for the preparation to the future operation of not only the equipment, but also the operating personnel, who are directly involved in the commissioning and testing. The personnel learn more details about the unit construction, and study the interaction schemes of various systems and equipment in practice.

The commissioning of a power unit consists of several steps. After commissioning works there is a physical and power start-up, and then an experimental-industrial operation. The life of the unit begins with the delivery of fuel to the central hall and the fuel loading into the reactor.

The physical start-up of the 2nd unit of Novovoronezh NPP-2 is planned for 2018.

The power units Nos 1 and 2 were stopped in 1984 and 1990, respectively. The power unit No 3 was stopped in 2016 for decommissioning activities. The power unit No 1 of Novovoronezh NPP-2 was commissioned on 27 February, 2017. The power unit No 2 of Novovoronezh NPP-2 is in the middle of construction and installation works; its commissioning is planned for 2018.