On January 30, 2026, trial commercial operation of the first power unit began at Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, a key stage in commissioning the newest generating asset of the Russian nuclear power industry. According to the operator, by 14:00 Moscow time the unit's installed electric capacity had reached 408 MW, which corresponds to 40% of the nominal 1,200 MW. Since the initial grid connection, the facility has already generated and supplied more than 71 million kWh of electricity to the country's unified power system.
Trial commercial operation follows the initial grid connection stage and provides for a phased increase in load with parallel testing of all systems under normal operating conditions. In the coming weeks, engineers plan to successively bring the reactor unit to 60%, 80%, and finally 100% of design capacity. Only after comprehensive tests at nominal load are completed will the power unit receive authorization for permanent commercial operation.
The special significance of the project is underscored by the use of the VVER-TOI reactor unit ("water-water power reactor with improved technical and organizational solutions"), a domestic Generation III+ design. The technology provides an increased level of passive safety, a 60-year design service life, and the ability of protection systems to operate autonomously for up to 72 hours without personnel intervention. Kursk NPP-2 will become the first plant in Russia built entirely using the VVER-TOI series.
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