Atommash, the Soviet industrial major, was built in the 1970s to produce nuclear power equipment. In the post-Soviet period, it went through hard times and almost lost its engineering competencies. In 2012, Atommash joined the engineering division of Rosatom, and soon afterwards a recovery program was initiated to re-launch the production of nuclear equipment. Program investments in 2012–2015 reached almost 2 billion rubles.
Finally, in October this year, the first vessel for VVER-1200 reactor was shipped to Belarusian NPP Unit 1 constructed by Russia.
Production of a reactor vessel requires unique competencies possessed by just a few countries in the world. Atommash is now the only Russian facility producing the entire range of nuclear island equipment, including reactor vessels, steam generators and other machines. Its capacity is sufficient to fully equip four nuclear islands per year. At present, the plant is manufacturing nuclear island equipment for power stations in Novovoronezh, Rostov and Belarus. In the near future, it will begin the production of nuclear islands for Akkuyu (Turkey) and Kudankulam (India).
“Bringing Atommash production facilities back to life is a priority for Rosatom. They were upgraded in the shortest time possible, followed by staff training and new operating procedures introduced. Today’s shipment is a proof that Atommash has fully recovered its competencies of a nuclear power equipment manufacturer. The reactor vessel for the first nuclear station in Belarus has passed all quality control tests and is delivered in accordance with the time schedule,” said Atomenergomash CEO Andrei Nikipelov after the shipment.
Atommash will also manufacture a vessel for the world’s most powerful research fast breeder reactor (MBIR) to be constructed at the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors in Dimitrovgrad. This has been announced by Igor Kotov, a chief executive of AEM Technology (a parent company of Atommash) at a press conference.
“We are about to finalize engineering drawings. I think we will put out a tender later this year or early next year for semi-finished components of the vessels. As soon as they are delivered to the plant, we will start the manufacturing process,” said Kotov.
With its unparalleled specifications, MBIR will solve a broad variety of research tasks, among them development of safer and more reliable nuclear power reactors, including fast breeder reactors for the closed nuclear fuel cycle.
