Rosatom officially launches construction of another unit at the Leningrad nuclear power plant

Russian builders have officially begun construction of another nuclear power unit in the country with the first concrete pour. Specifically, this is Unit 7 at the Leningrad nuclear power plant in northwestern Russia. The VVER-1200 unit, with a 60-year service life, is expected to help the country meet its target of generating 25% of its electricity from nuclear power by 2045. Russia is planning up to 30 new nuclear reactors at various stages.

Russia’s energy company Rosatom announced the official start of construction work on Unit 7 at the Leningrad nuclear power plant. Engineers began pouring the foundations for the 2,100-square-metre reactor building. The entire concreting process, which will use 5,500 cubic metres of concrete, is expected to be completed in the summer. Russian President Vladimir Putin also took part in the ceremony via videoconference.

“By 2045, the share of nuclear generation in Russia’s total energy mix will rise to 25%. The construction of a new, efficient power unit at the Leningrad nuclear power plant will make a good contribution to this goal. Its launch will improve energy security across Russia’s entire northwestern region and provide consumers with cleaner electricity in the years ahead,” Putin said.

In its first phase, the Leningrad nuclear power plant had four RBMK-1000 reactors, commissioned between 1973 and 1981. The first two no longer generate electricity, while the latter two are due to be shut down in 2025 and 2026. Rosatom is also planning four units in the second phase, this time of the VVER-1200 type. The first two have been supplying electricity to the grid since 2018 and 2021, respectively. Rosatom plans to commission the new unit in 2030. The company plans a service life of at least 60 years for all units, with an option to extend it by 20 years.

“Thanks to the operation of the nuclear power plant and its contributions to the Leningrad region’s budget, thousands of industrial enterprises and social facilities are operating, roads are being built, and major regional investment projects are being carried out,” noted Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region.

Renewal of Russia’s nuclear fleet

According to the World Nuclear Association, Russia has a total of 37 nuclear units in operation, which account for 20% of electricity generation. A further four reactors are at various stages of construction, while another 26 are in the planning process. Some of the new units are intended to replace ageing reactors, while others will help increase nuclear power’s share to 25% by 2045.

“Rosatom is currently building two units at Phase 2 of the Kursk nuclear power plant, which are already at an advanced stage of completion. The Smolensk and Kola nuclear power plants will follow. We are planning further development of nuclear generation in the Urals and then in Siberia and the Far East, where the greatest increase in consumption is expected,” said Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom’s CEO.