Nizhny Novgorod NPP: description, terms of construction, interesting facts and reviews

The construction of such an important facility for the country's economy as the Nizhny Novgorod NPP, the mass media began to report back in 2006. The project of this station is serial and now it is building the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant. The customer of this new facility is OOO Concern Energoatom. Actually the project itself was developed by specialists of the engineering company Atomproekt (Nizhny Novgorod).

Feasibility of construction

Unfortunately, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, unfortunately, there is not a single large power plant. With all this, different kinds of factories and plants in the region are very many. Thus, the shortage of electricity becomes a serious brake on the development of the regional economy. The construction of a nuclear power plant can help solve the problem completely. After the erection of this serious object, among other things, thousands of new jobs will also appear in the region. Experts also argue that the construction of the station will have a beneficial effect not only on Nizhny Novgorod, but also on neighboring areas. After all, electricity supplies after the construction of nuclear power plants are supposed to be produced there.

Where will build the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant - the final decision

When designing the nuclear power plant project, two sites were initially considered: 23 km from Murom, near the village of Monakovo (Navashino district) or 20 km south-west of Uren (Urensky district). In 2009, after careful research conducted on-site, preference was given to the first option. The station will be built, therefore, next to Monakovo. It was estimated that the construction of nuclear power plants in this area will cost 20 billion rubles less.

What awaits the population

According to the developers of the project, Nizhny Novgorod NPP is an object, the construction of which will not affect the ecological situation in the region. Modern stations are designed in such a way that even directly on their territory there is no increased radiation background. Therefore, nearby villages in the place of construction of a new nuclear power plant will not settle, of course. In addition, the construction of the station will stimulate the accelerated development of the infrastructure of the Navashino district.

Arguments against

Of course, not all are happy with the construction of the station in the Nizhny Novgorod region. As the main argument, the opponents of erecting this object are put forward by the fact that karst dips are constantly forming in the vicinity of the village of Monakovo . However, the developers of the project calmed the population by the fact that by geological research, a stable plot of several kilometers was found under the construction of power units.

Design Features

It is assumed that the NPP in the Nizhny Novgorod region will consist of two power units. Their total capacity will be 2510 MW. In the future, it is planned to build two more reactors. Initially, the Nizhny Novgorod NPP wanted to use the VVER-1200 power units. However, later they decided to apply a more advanced and safe option. According to the existing project, water-water reactors of VVER-TOI will be used at the station. The nuclear power plant itself will include the main building, security facilities, and auxiliary facilities.

First, it was planned to carry out transportation on the territory of the station by railway transport. However, later it was decided to replace it with an automobile one. This allowed to reduce the station's area and, accordingly, to reduce costs.

VVER-TOI reactor

VVER-1200 was replaced with VVER-TOI primarily in connection with the increased safety requirements after Fukushima. The nuclear-powered VVER-POI reactor is capable of withstanding hurricanes and tornadoes with a wind speed of 56 m / s, an earthquake of up to 8 points, an airplane weighing 400 tons, a shock wave with a pressure of up to 30 KPa. The advantages of the VVER-TOI reactor include, among other things, the fact that in the event of any malfunctions, it is immediately automatically shut off.

Opinion of physicists

Most experts consider the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region, of course, appropriate and necessary. Reviews of physicists about atomic energy in most cases, of course, are positive. The advantages of NPP construction include:

• Relative cheapness of energy production;

• Ecological purity of the product;

• The possibility of saving space (NPPs occupy a small area in comparison with other types of stations).

However, among physicists there are opponents of the construction of such stations. Many experts consider their use of the idea too dangerous.

In Nizhny Novgorod, one of the initiators of protest actions against the construction of an object such as the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant was the famous nuclear physicist A. Ozharovsky. In his opinion, the Navashino district is not the most suitable place for the construction of the nuclear power plant. In the world of nuclear power plants no one ever builds karsts. And in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in fact, a dangerous experiment will be put. In this case, as A. Ozharovsky claims, it is more risky to build a station on a karst site, even than in a seismically active region.

The opinion of ordinary citizens

The construction of the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant in the Navashino district, of course, caused a mixed reaction in the society. After the deputies agreed to erect this important object, the residents of the region, in fact, divided into two camps. Some citizens support the construction of the nuclear power plant, believing that this will have a good effect on the financial situation of the region. And consequently, it will increase the material well-being of all Nizhny Novgorod citizens. Others categorically do not want to live next to such a dangerous object and organize all kinds of protest actions - from rallies to appeals to the president. However, according to sociologists, there are practically no chances for victory among environmentalists and construction opponents in this situation. Even despite the negative reaction to the public, the station will sooner or later be erected.

Terms of construction

Of course, many residents of not only this region, but also nearby people would like to know when and where the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant will be built. According to the first project, the station near the village of Monakovo was to start as early as 2014. Hearings on its construction were carried out in 2009. The project was approved, but the nuclear power plant was not built then. Opponents of the construction of the station sighed with relief. However, in January 2013 Vice President for Economics of NIAEP V. Katz said that the construction of nuclear power plants will begin in 2014. But this time, the terms were moved. According to the latest statements of representatives of the administration of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the construction of a station near Monakovo will commence in 2019. The first power unit in this case will work in 2022, the second in 2025. Two more reactors will be built by 2030.

Interesting facts about nuclear power plants

The construction of the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant, thus, caused quite legitimate fears of the public. Of course, the fears of the local population can be considered more than justified. In the event of an accident at such an object, the consequences will not be simply catastrophic, but truly horrible. And it will affect not only residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region itself, but all surrounding regions. It is worth recalling at least the same Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the accident that led to the contamination of the territory not only of Ukraine, but also of Belarus, Russia and even Europe.

The construction site of the Nizhny Novgorod NPP may not have been chosen very well. However, many public concerns about such stations are still not entirely justified. In fact, only the accident at the nuclear power plant with a leakage of radiation is terrible. In all other respects, nuclear power plants are quite safe facilities, practically not affecting the ecological situation of the adjacent territory. So, for example:

• There is an opinion that people living near nuclear power plants are often ill with leukemia. However, this fact has not been scientifically proven. According to statistics, this disease is equally common anywhere in the world.

• Some opponents of the nuclear power plant believe that terrorists can send a captured aircraft to the reactor, resulting in a catastrophe. However, careful studies and calculations have shown that no transport, passenger or military aircraft can cause any serious damage to such objects simply can not.

• There is also an opinion that radioactive waste from nuclear power plants will literally flood everything around. However, this is also a delusion. There is practically no waste at nuclear power plants. The already existing repositories are replenished no more than once in 20-40 years.

What other stations will be built in the Russian Federation in the coming years?

Part of a large project, the implementation of which is scheduled in Russia until 2030, are the Yuzhnouralskaya, Nizhny Novgorod and Tatar NPPs. By this time, in addition to the station in Monakovo, it is planned to build two reactors in Ozersk (Chelyabinsk region) and two - in the village. Kamsky Polyana (Tatarstan).

The South Ural NPP will eventually consist of three power units. Its capacity will be 2,400 MW. Initially, several sites were considered for this station. In the end, the choice was made in favor of the village of Metlino near the town of Ozersk. According to the project, BN-800 reactors will be installed at this station.

The project of the Tatar NPP was developed in the 70s of the last century. Preparatory activities at the site chosen for it near the village of Kamsky Polyany began in 1980. Unfortunately, in the spring of 1990, this facility was frozen due to lack of funds. According to the new project, four power units will be installed at the nuclear power plant. In the end, the station's capacity will be 1210 MW.

Instead of concluding

Thus, in the article we found out where the Nizhegorodskaya NPP will be located and when it will be built. They will build this facility near Murom next to the village of Monakovo. Of course, the region will get a huge profit from the construction of the nuclear power plant. Nizhny Novgorod deputies who decided to erect it, it is understandable. The energy deficit in the area really is just huge. But the opinion of the public, of course, should be taken into account without fail. At least the authorities are simply obliged to intelligibly explain to the population how dangerous it is to build a station near the village of Monakovo - in the karst zone.