At Kursk NPP-2 in Kurchatov, the pouring of the first concrete into the foundation of Power Unit No. 3 has begun. This was reported by Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein on the eve of the physical start-up of the first power unit of NPP-2.
The area of the foundation slab will amount to 5.3 thousand square meters; it is divided into six concrete pouring sections. The volume of the first section is about 1.9 thousand cubic meters, and filling it took about a day. In total, more than 15 thousand cubic meters of concrete will be laid into the foundation slab.
The governor noted that, for the first time since Soviet times, they are returning to the flow-line construction method. Pouring the "first concrete" will make it possible to move on to erecting buildings, thermal installation work, and equipment installation. Before the pouring began, a prayer service was held together with the plant staff. Plant Director Alexander Uvakin said that his only wish is to see with his own eyes the moment when the cooling tower is completed and the reactor is in place — symbols of the birth of new nuclear power engineering.
At present, Power Units No. 3 and No. 4 of Kursk NPP are operating at the capacity set by the dispatch schedule. Power Units No. 1 and No. 2 are in operation without generation due to the expiration of their established service life.
The construction of Kursk NPP-2 is of strategic importance for the sustainable development of the nuclear industry. The projected annual electricity generation of the two-unit Kursk NPP-2 will amount to 19.5 billion kilowatt-hours. The national project provides for the construction of four VVER-TOI power units to replace power units with RBMK-1000 reactors. The plant's total capacity will increase by 20%.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Being commissioned: the first unit of Kursk NPP-2 will enter trial operation in 2026
- Rosatom connected the first power unit of Kursk NPP-2 to Russia's unified power system
- Start-up operations began at the first power unit of Kursk NPP-2
