Dummy fuel in place at Kalinin 4

Thursday, 26 May 2011 Operation of a new nuclear reactor at Russia's Kalinin power plant has come closer with the loading of dummy fuel for commissioning tests. The primary circuit can now be flushed ahead of pressure tests and other checks that must take place before real nuclear fuel is loaded. Kalinin 4 is a V-320 model VVER-1000 built using the major components unused at Bulgaria's long-running Belene project. It is slated for start-up in September and commercial operation two months later.