The Generationn III+ VVER-1200 plant, construction of which began in 2009, was brought to minimum controlled power level on 22 March and on 1 May reached a level of 240 MW.
Rosatom said pilot operation consists of four sub-stages: operation at 50% capacity; operation at 75% capacity; operation at nominal power and commissioning trials; and its approval for operation.
Once all these stages have been completed, nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor will check the unit against its design parameters.
The unit’s power will now be gradually increased to 100% with full commissioning scheduled by the end of 2019, Rosenergoatom said.
Construction of Novovoronezh 2-2 began in July 2009. It will be the third unit of its type to be completed in Russia. The others were its sister unit, Novovoronezh 2-1, which began commercial operation in February 2017, and Leningrad 2-1, which began commercial operation in October 2018.