Languages

Oldest Kola reactors to run for another 15 years

The control room for the oldest reactor at Kola NPP. This photo is from 1993.

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, confirms a training program is in full swing aimed at extending the life-time beyond 2018.

Location

Commissioned in 1973 and 1974, the two first generation VVER-440-230 models are the oldest still operating water cooled reactors in the former Soviet Union. Originally built to last for 30 years, they both got their life-time expanded in a controversial licensing process till the year 2018 and 2019. It was especially neighboring Norway that expressed hope that the two reactors, by Norwegian specialists considered unsafe, who wanted them shut down. 

“Today, we have in full swing a training program to implement programs to extend the life-time of the first and second reactors. We have a solution for developing investment projects for the prolongation, in fact, a final decision will be taken in the first half of 2015,” says Director of Kola nuclear power plant, Vasily Omelchuk, to RIA Novosti. “Technically viable extension is something we already have demonstrated and proved.”

Nuclear physicist Nils Bøhmer with the Norwegian based Bellona Foundation says the news is “sad”.

“It is sad that the life-time of the two oldest reactors at Kola NPP can be extended for another 15 years. These reactors are already classified as some of the most dangerous reactors in the world,” says Nils Bøhmer to the organization’s own portal

Vasily Omelchuk counters the cliam and says to RIA Novosti that modern safety requirements are met. “Reliability and safety first,” says Omelchuk. He hope and believe that the implementation of the service life-time program will make it possible to extend the operation of the two reactors till they are 60 years old, that be 2018 plus 15 years.

Kola nuclear power plant today operates four reactors. The two newest, VVER-440-213, are of second generation Soviet-designed reactors, and are by international experts said to be safer. 

Last autumn, BarentsObserver visited the Kola nuclear power plant and reported that safety stands much higher on the agenda now than in the early 1990ties when neighbouring countries like Norway, Finland and Sweden first started their donor- and safety cooperation projects with Kola nuclear power plant.

Since 1994, a total of 1,130 safety measures are implemented at Kola NPP. After the European Union’s TACIS program and support from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Norway has contributed with most money to safety. Nearly $15 million are given by Norway. Followed $13 million from Sweden and $2,3 million from Finland. Out of $718 million invested in safety, $96 million comes from abroad.