Russia’s nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor has granted a licence for the Beloyarsk-3 nuclear power plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, central Russia, to operate until 2025.
Since 2009 the BN-600 fast breeder reactor unit, which began commercial operation in 1981, has been undergoing a large-scale modernisation programme, including the addition of several additional safety features such as a second reactor emergency protection unit, an emergency air heat exchanger system and a backup control panel. The steam generator modules were also replaced, Rosatom said.
Since 2009 the BN-600 fast breeder reactor unit, which began commercial operation in 1981, has been undergoing a large-scale modernisation programme, including the addition of several additional safety features such as a second reactor emergency protection unit, an emergency air heat exchanger system and a backup control panel. The steam generator modules were also replaced, Rosatom said.
In 2010, Rostekhnadzor conditionally approved the unit’s operation until 2025, but issued a licence only until 2020 after asking for more information about the long-term operability of some irreplaceable reactor components.
Rosatom said checks of the components had shown that it is technically possible to continue operation of the unit. Based on this, Rostekhnadzor has now extended the licence until 2025.
