Site licence granted for Russian new build

Monday, 31 January 2011 Russian nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor has granted site licences for two nuclear units at a new site in Nizhniy Novgorod. Nuclear plant operator Rosenergoatom is planning to build two units at the Nizhniy Novgorod nuclear power plant, also referred to as Nizhegorod, which is near the village of Monakovo. The site licences are good for 5 years, and are the culmination of a two-year process involving feasibility studies, public hearings, expert opinions and justification exercises. Next steps will involve the development of design documentation and other materials needed to obtain a construction licence for the two VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors. The units are scheduled to start up in 2019 and 2022, respectively.