Rosatom can accelerate construction of Kola NPP to provide energy for Murmansk LPG project

MURMANSK. Oct 16 (Interfax) - The Rosatom State Corporation is considering the possibility of commissioning power unit No. 1 of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant-2 (KNPP-2) earlier than the planned commissioning date of 2035, Adviser to the Director of the Kola Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) Evgeniy Nikora told Interfax.

According to the previously approved roadmap, the construction of KNPP-2 should begin in 2028, while commissioning of power unit No. 1 is planned for 2035, and power unit No. 2 in 2037.

"I would like to draw attention to the list of instructions from the President contained in the minutes of the meeting under his chairmanship on the construction of Murmansk LNG. The Rosatom State Corporation is recommended to consider the possibility of accelerating the commissioning of the first power unit of KNPP-2 without a date," Nikora said, adding that a report on this issue should be submitted in the spring of 2024.

Taking into account the possible extension of the operating life of KNPP-2's power units, it will be able to operate until 2124, he noted.

"Therefore, I would like to emphasize that the deadlines remain the same and are not shifted to the right. But taking into the president's instructions into account, work has begun on the issue of shifting the commissioning of the first power unit of KNPP-2 to the left," the adviser to the director of KNPP said.

Speaking about the possible dates for the start of construction, Nikora said: "I won't promise 2026 or 2027."

Work related to surveys and geological exploration is currently underway at the KNPP-2 site, and designers are working at the preliminary stage, he said.