20 Nov (NucNet): Fuel loading was completed yesterday at Russia’s Rostov-3 nuclear unit following regulatory approval last week to bring the unit to first criticality, Russia’s nuclear power station operator Rosenergoatom has said.
The loading of all 163 fuel assemblies into the VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor unit was completed on 19 November at 09:30 local time, Rosenergoatom said.
“Experts are now checking the loaded fuel assemblies,” said Victor Tereshonok, scientific director in charge of commissioning the reactor. “The reactor will then be assembled, after which we will begin hydrotesting of the primary and secondary reactor loops,” he said.
Rosenergoatom said the construction and commissioning of Rostov-3 is ahead of schedule and the decision to push ahead with latest commissioning procedures such as fuel loading and testing was taken by management because of the high degree of preparedness.
On 14 November, Russia’s nuclear regulator gave its approval to bring the reactor to first criticality and fuel loading began.
Hot testing of the unit was completed on 24 October and additional pre-start due diligence work was carried out until 31 October.
Construction of Rostov-3, near the city of Volgodonsk in southwest Russia, began in 2009 and it is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2014.
Rostov already has two VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor units, Rostov-1 and Rostov-2, in commercial operation. Rostov-3 and Rostov-4 will use the same technology and have a capacity of 1,011-MW each.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency Russia has 30 nuclear reactor units in commercial operation and 1 under construction.
