The reactor unit is operating in pilot mode, with machinery acceptance tests carried out under the supervision of Russian regulator Rostechnadzor.

Rostov Unit 4 was brought online on February 1, 2018. The power ascension process, during which the reactor’s power was gradually raised to the designated level, took 72 days and ended in mid-April.

Rostov NPP is Russia’s only nuclear power plant with three units put in operation within seven years. All the units run on VVER-1000 reactors, with Unit 4 being the last one in Russia to have this reactor type. Over the last seven years, the power unit lead time – from the first concrete pouring to grid connection – decreased by 2.5 times. At present, Russia builds nuclear plants with VVER-1200 reactors and VVER-TOI (an advanced version of VVER-1200).

RosEnergoAtom expects Rostov Unit 4 to be put in full commercial operation by late 2018. After that, the Rostov NPP will account for 50% of power generation in the Rostov region.