Fuel. The Leypunsky Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (part of Rosatom) started up a critical facility to study mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. Tests to validate the neutronic performance of a spectral shift control (VVER-S) reactor core are conducted as part of the Institute’s two-phase experimental program. Preliminary tests of the first phase will make the main-phase research more focused. Experimental programs related to the VVER-S reactor serve as a starting point for the development of MOX-fueled thermal neutron reactors cooled and moderated with water. MOX fuel pellets are made of depleted uranium oxide, and plutonium oxide extracted from spent nuclear fuel of power reactors. VVER-S is a 600 MW pressurized water reactor. What makes VVER-S different is the possibility of shifting the neutron spectrum to control the core reactivity during the fuel burnup by changing the water-fuel ratio, and complete abandonment of standby liquid control systems.

Construction sites. Engines of all four primary coolant pumps were idled step by step at Unit 1 of Turkey’s Akkuyu NPP. Making the pumps ready for operation is a prerequisite for the beginning of circulation flushing and hydraulic pressure tests, in which the primary circuit will be filled with desalinated water to check the tightness and robustness of all its parts. The four pumps will ensure coolant circulation in the reactor core during the power unit operation. The Akkuyu NPP will have the latest-generation primary coolant pumps designed for VVER-1200 reactors. They use water rather than oil for lubrication and cooling, which improves fire safety and reduces the number of bearings, making the pumps more reliable. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant will have four power units with Russian-designed Generation 3+ VVER reactors.

Cooperation. Rosatom took part in India’s 14th Nuclear Energy Conclave, the oldest nuclear conference in the country. The event was attended by representatives of public and private Indian nuclear companies, and government bodies, including the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Rosatom presented its technology and solutions for small-scale nuclear generation facilities with RITM-200 reactors. Small-scale nuclear generation is one of the most promising areas for the global nuclear industry as small modular reactors (SMRs) can ensure continuous supply of clean electricity and heat in remote areas. “We believe that the stable power generation costs and flexible range of installed capacity make SMRs a favorable solution for the Indian industry,” said Vijay Joshi, Deputy CEO at Rosatom’s regional office in India.

Icebreakers. Assembly of a RITM-200 reactor for the new-generation multi-purpose nuclear icebreaker Leningrad started at one of Rosatom’s production facilities. Propulsion plants of the new nuclear-powered icebreakers comprise two RITM-200 reactors. They are twice lighter, 1.5 times smaller and considerably more powerful than the earlier versions of marine reactors, offering higher speed and better ice performance. Last year, the Northern Sea Route (NSR) set a new record, with 37.9 million tonnes of cargo transported and 92 transit voyages made. RITM-200 reactors are already installed at three new-generation icebreakers operating on the NSR, another one is undergoing sea trials, and two more are under construction. RITM reactors are also planned to be used at offshore power plants and onshore small-scale generation facilities, such as the Yakutia NPP. 

Construction sites. Construction workers finished installing the second tier of the inner containment shell (ICS) at the second power unit of Egypt’s El Dabaa NPP. The installation operations were completed ahead of schedule. “Today we have put in place the second ICS tier at Unit 2. This opens us a door to the beginning of reinforcement, formwork installation and subsequent concreting of the tier, which will be one of the key events at Unit 2 in 2025,” said Alexey Kononenko, Vice President of ASE and Director of El Dabaa Construction Project. The inner containment shell is a cylinder-shaped structure that houses the nuclear reactor and primary circuit equipment. The second ICS tier consists of 12 sections. Each section is 12 meters long and 14 meters high, weighing from 60 to 90 tonnes. The El Dabaa NPP will have four 1,200 MW power units with Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors. 

Education. Rosatom held a Career Day for international students at the Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), one of its backbone universities. The event brought together partner university students and graduates from nine countries: Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and others. Representatives of Rosatom, government ministries, regulatory bodies, national nuclear energy commissions, and nuclear infrastructure companies told the students how to make a successful career in the nuclear industry. Experts answered students’ questions, and alumni shared their stories of success. The consortium of Rosatom’s backbone universities includes 20 specialized higher education institutions. Rosatom establishes relevant departments at Russian universities, launches scholarship programs and major educational initiatives, organizes internships and traineeships for students, and offers them employment opportunities.

Cooperation. Rosatom acted as a partner and contributor for the International Youth Forum for Sustainable Nuclear Technologies, which recently finished in Egypt. The forum brought together over 350 people from 25 countries, with about 800,000 people watching the online broadcast. The forum attendees discussed the impact of nuclear technologies on the development of various industries and the quality of life of modern man. They also paid attention to innovations, and the contribution of nuclear education to the training of qualified personnel. IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov took part in a nuclear energy and technology session for young experts from the BRICS countries. The session entitled ‘African Youth: Shaping the Future for Sustainable Nuclear Technologies’ featured presentations by African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN) members from different African countries. The final event of the forum was a technical tour to the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, which Rosatom is building in Egypt.

Northern Sea Route. The multi-purpose nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika moored at an ice pier in Slobodskaya Bay for the first time this year. An ice pier is a temporary ice structure designed to assist the loading and unloading of ships in the Arctic where onshore ports may be inaccessible. Mooring a ship to an ice pier is considered to be one of the most difficult maneuvers as it requires high accuracy and due account of ice conditions. “With the multi-purpose nuclear icebreakers, we make logistic routes more efficient as we can ensure the mooring of ships to ice piers,” said Vladimir Arutyunyan, First Deputy Director General at Rosatom and Head of the Marine Operations Headquarters at the Northern Sea Route Chief Directorate. Rosatom is the exclusive operator of the Northern Sea Route infrastructure.

Development plans. Rosatom joined an international seminar on advanced nuclear technologies and nuclear plant construction. Experts from Rosatom and representatives of national energy companies and research organizations from Indonesia, Hungary and Turkey discussed Indonesia’s plans to embark on a nuclear power program and the difficulties of building a nuclear industry from scratch. Particular attention was paid to the economic and social benefits of nuclear power, local production capabilities, and a regulatory framework in this field. Rosatom experts presented cutting-edge energy solutions tailored to the needs of Indonesia. Speakers from Hungary and Turkey shared their experience in constructing nuclear power plants and opting for the Russian technology.