Work has been completed on installation of the domed part of the outer containment of the reactor building at unit 1 of Russia’s Kursk-II NPP. First, the lower part of the dome was assembled - a large-sized structure weighing 235 tons, followed by the 175-ton upper part five days later. The height of the structure is now 65.4 metres.

 

“The outer containment is one of the most important security systems. This reinforced concrete structure protects the reactor plant from extreme external influences,” said Andrey Osharin, First Deputy Director for Construction of New Units at Kursk NPP. “In addition, there is also an inner protective shell that provides reliable protection of the environment. This was completed in October. The double containment is a distinctive feature of the Russian units with VVER-1200 and VVER-TOI reactors, ensuring the maximum level of NPP safety,” 

 

Installation was preceded by pre-assembly of the components, which was carried out on a special site on the ground.“Preparation and assembly of the NZO dome is a long and painstaking process, which is planned to take 175 days,” said Evgeny Shevchenko, director of the Kursk branch of Trest RosSEM LLC, which carried out the assembly. “However, at the Kursk-II construction site, assembly of the two parts of the dome was completed by specialists in 135 days. This was achieved due to the well-coordinated interaction of specialists at the site and the maximum parallel organisation of operations.”  

 

Oleg Shperle, Vice President of JSC Atomstroyexport, Project Director for the construction of Kursk-II, said concreting of the dome will begin in spring, which will be followed by the installation of passive heat removal systems.

 

Kursk-II 1&2 are being built according to the VVER-TOI project (standard optimised informatised pressurised water power reactor), which is a development of the VVER-1200 reactor design. Kursk II is intended as a replacement station for the currently operating Kursk NPP, which comprises four RBMK reactors. Unit 1 was closed in 2021 and unit 2 is to close in 2024.