Unit 2 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant in southwest Russia has entered the pilot commercial operation (PCO) stage, Rosenergoatom, the operator subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced.

Novovoronezh II-2 (Image: Rosatom)

The VVER-1200 reactor was brought to the minimum controlled power level on 22 March, was first connected to the grid on 1 May and received the commissioning permit for PCO from regulator Rostechnadzor two days later.

PCO consists of four sub-stages: operation at 50% power capacity; operation at 75% power capacity; operation at nominal power (this includes operation at 90% and 100% levels) as well as comprehensive testing of the equipment (known as commissioning trials) of the power unit; and its acceptance for operation.

Once the PCO stage has been completed, Rostechnadzor will inspect the unit against its design parameters.

The unit is expected to be put in commercial operation by year-end.

The main architect and general contractor of the unit are, respectively, Atomenergoproekt and ASE, which are also subsidiaries of Rosatom.

Novovoronezh II-2 will be the third VVER-1200 to be commissioned, following Novovoronezh II-1 and Leningrad II-1, which were launched in 2016 and 2017, respectively.