VVER technology in the spotlight of ATOMEXPO 2013

World’s best practices in operating pressurized-water reactors (VVER) will be discussed at the International Industry Forum ATOMEXPO 2013 in St. Petersburg on 22-28 June. The forum is organized by the Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation, BelTA learnt from the press center of the forum.

The forum will focus on the integrated approach to the development of nuclear power, nuclear power and society acceptability, international cooperation on nuclear issues, R&D capabilities and prospects within the context of environmental protection. The major topic of the forum is “Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century: Responsible Partnership for Sustainable Development.”

A high-level ministerial conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be held on 27-29 June in St. Petersburg, on the invitation of the Government of the Russian Federation. The conference will review the issues of nuclear power in the 21st century. According to the organizers, the conference will bring together a record high number of participants. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the IAEA conference.

Most modern nuclear power-generating units, the existing ones and those under construction, operate VVER reactors. This type of reactors is safer as compared to the other types of reactors (for example the high power channel-type reactor installed at the Chernobyl and Ignalina nuclear power plants).

The Belarusian NPP will be based on the NPP-2006 design with the VVER-1200 reactor. The NPP will include two power units with the total capacity of up to 2,400MW. The designer and main contractor is the Russian company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport. The first power unit is set to be commissioned in 2018.