The Atommash plant (Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering division) has shipped a VVER-1000 reactor vessel for delivery to the customer. The reactor vessel is intended for Unit 6 of the Russian-design Kudankulam NPP under construction in India. The equipment weighing 320 tons is being transported to the construction site.
Before its maritime journey, the equipment was delivered to the plant’s dock by specialized motorized transport. Once there, it was loaded onto a river vessel and transported to the seaport of Novorossiysk. Upon arrival at the port, the reactor was loaded into the ship hold to make its six-thousand-mile voyage to India.
“Despite our strong position in the nuclear world, we remain committed to continuous development. We are actively improving equipment design to guarantee the highest level of safety, and enhancing the economic efficiency of our products. At present, we are working on a new NPP reactor unit with increased capacity and advanced operational characteristics. This new unit will also feature improved technical and economic performance,” noted Valery Kryzhanovsky, General Designer of OKB GIDROPRESS JSC.
In accordance with the production schedule, a set of four steam generators for Unit 6 at the Kudankulam NPP in India will be shipped in 2025.
Reference
The Kudankulam NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in India and a flagship project of the India-Russia collaboration in the fields of technology and energy. The plant construction stage includes six power units, each equipped with a VVER-1000 reactor, with a total installed capacity of 6,000 megawatts. Units 1 and 2 were connected to the Indian national grid in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and are now providing energy to the southern region of India. At present, the construction and installation of units 3 and 4 is nearing completion, and the construction of two power units (Units 5 and 6) within the third stage has commenced. The scope of Rosatom’s Engineering division includes the NPP design and construction, while the division companies also supply equipment for the plant. Atomstroyexport, Joint-Stock Company, and NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) have signed contracts for the design and supply of equipment. Rosatom is also responsible for fuel supplies for the power units of the Kudankulam NPP for their entire service life.
OKB Gidropress JSC is a leading designer of VVER units, including the crucial component — the reactor vessel. The company provides support for its products throughout their lifecycle, from the initial design stage to the equipment commissioning and operation. Atommash, a flagship company in the Russian mechanical engineering sector, manufactures sophisticated equipment (reactors, steam generators, etc.) virtually for all nuclear projects including the Kursk NPP-II and NPPs being constructed with Russia’s involvement in Bangladesh, India, China, and Turkey. These companies belong to Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering division.
VVER reactors have been demonstrating their reliability and effectiveness over several decades. The operation of the NPPs employing VVERs in Russia and other countries has surpassed 2,000 reactor years. These types of units have potential for long-term operation. In particular, they can serve as the basis for NPPs planned for construction in the Far East.
The production campaign for the VVER-1000 reactor vessel takes two years. The equipment manufacturing requires the utmost precision and adherence to strict international quality standards. The general inspection plan encompasses a total of 289 control points, with each operation being supervised by inspectors from an authorized organization and a foreign customer. Representatives from the foreign customer have been present in Volgograd since the commencement of equipment manufacturing for the Kudankulam NPP in 2016.
Rosatom’s Engineering division includes the leading nuclear companies: Atomstroyexport, Joint-Stock Company (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branches in Russia and abroad), the United Design Institute – Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod branches – design institutes, branches in Russia and abroad, survey branches) and construction subsidiaries. The Engineering division ranks first in the global nuclear industry boasting the largest order backlog and NPP construction projects that the division is running in various countries. The international projects of the Engineering division account for approximately 80 % of its revenue. The division runs large NPP construction projects in Russia and abroad, offering a comprehensive range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services, including project management and design. It is developing Multi-D technologies for operating sophisticated engineering facilities. The division draws upon the expertise of the Russian nuclear sector and cutting-edge technological advancements. www.ase-ec.ru
Russia is actively developing its scientific and technological cooperation with all interested parties. Large international projects are being implemented with active involvement of Rosatom and its divisions.
