Physical Startup For Russia’s Kursk Units Scheduled For 2022-2023

23 Aug (NucNet): Physical startup of two nuclear power units in the second phase of the Kursk nuclear station in central Russia is scheduled for 2022 to 2023, a spokesman for the station said. According to the independent news agency Interfax, Kursk 2-1 will be started in November 2022 and Kursk 2-2 in November 2023. Physical startup refers to first criticality of the reactor core. Interfax did not give any schedule for grid connection or commercial operation. Construction of the two units began in June 2016 when Russia’s nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor gave nuclear operator Rosenergoatom a licence allowing the construction of Kursk 2-1. Rosenergoatom said at the time that large-scale construction work would begin immediately. Site preparation for the new station and road access works have been under way since 2015. Kursk 2, intended to replace four reactors at the ageing Kursk nuclear station, will have two VVER-TOI units. The VVER-TOI reactor is a Generation III+ design, developed from the 1,200 MW AES-2006 pressurised water reactor. According to Interfax, total investment in the construction of the two units is about $3.3bn (€2.8bn).