The Generation 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.
The unit’s power will now be gradually increased to 100% with full commissioning scheduled by the end of 2019, Rosenergoatom said.
Once 100% power level has been reached the plant will undergo comprehensive testing for 15 continuous days before approval for commercial operation.
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.
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.