Rostov NPP is ready to operate under autumn-winter peak load

The commission has checked the enterprise’s readiness for operation under autumn-winter peak load (AWPL) and submitted for the Concern Director’s approval a draft certificate of nuclear plant readiness for operation in the cold time of the year.
The commission results are stated in the Inspection “Act of Plant Readiness for Operation in 2010-2011 Autumn-Winter Period.”
The inspection checked the state of nuclear plant main equipment, engineering services, networks and buildings and structures; studied organizational matters, including personnel operational readiness. No serious violations, preventing Rostov NPP from AWPL operation, have been detected during the inspection.
The commission work was preceded by the AWPL readiness self-check. For the sake of the self-check in September the plant approved of a special program and established a working commission headed by Chief Engineer of Rostov NPP Andrey Salnikov. The heads of all subdivision performed the self-check of readiness for operation under the cold season load.
During the self-check special attention was paid to the control of such programs as equipment and power unit readiness, material and technical supply, personnel readiness, fire safety assurance, condition of buildings and structures, heating systems, boiler plants, electrical and hydraulic equipment, including the cooling pond, supply and discharge channels and spray ponds.
Taking into account the amount and quality of completed works and giving the positive evaluation of preparation for power unit No.1 safe and reliable operation, the commission confirmed that Rostov NPP was ready to operate under AWPL load.
Every year all Russian NPPs get certificates, confirming nuclear plant readiness for operation under autumn-winter peak load, and that is a severe examination for power engineers. During this period power equipment is operated at the maximum load. The readiness certificate is issued by the General Director of Rosenergoatom Concern, which specialists perform the final NPP check.
Rostov NPP is a branch of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC. The nuclear power plant is located on the bank of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir 13.5 km far from Volgodonsk city. Power unit No.1 which was put into commercial operation in 2001 has the operated VVER-1000-type pressurized water reactor with installed capacity of 1,000 MW.The works on power unit No.2 construction were resumed in 2006. On March 18, 2010 power unit No. 2 was powered on.