Russia says its nuclear power plant designs can adapt to construction requirements in seismically active regions

On June 25, Dmitry Ivanov, Chief Engineer of the Atomenergoproekt Integrated Design Institute under the engineering division of Rosatom, stated that Rosatom incorporates seismic requirements into its nuclear power plant designs, enabling relevant units to be constructed and operated in seismically unstable regions.

Ivanov noted that Rosatom is currently building or overseeing the construction of nuclear power plants in Russia as well as in India, Bangladesh, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran. The seismic impacts faced by different project sites vary, with some regions potentially experiencing higher seismic intensity. Drawing on experience from past projects, the company implements corresponding seismic resistance into nuclear power plant designs in accordance with regulatory document requirements to ensure safe plant operation.

He stated that the systems and components of nuclear power plants must be designed for seismic resistance in accordance with multiple federal norms and regulations in the field of nuclear energy utilization, including documents such as NP-031-01 "Design Standards for Seismic-Resistant Nuclear Power Plants" and NP-064-17 "Consideration of Natural and Man-Made External Impacts on Nuclear Facilities."

Rosatom cited Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant as an example. The project is located in a seismically active zone and is designed to withstand seismic impacts of approximately magnitude 9.0. During the construction period, seismic activity at the site is regularly monitored, and buildings and structures within the plant area are designed according to their respective seismic categories to withstand corresponding seismic loads.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, the relevant nuclear power plant designs underwent reassessment. On this basis, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant additionally underwent seismic testing exceeding 40% of the maximum design earthquake intensity. The assessment results showed that its main systems, structures, and equipment possess sufficient margins to withstand seismic loads exceeding 40% of the maximum design earthquake intensity; the inner protective layer of the containment can maintain sealing integrity, and the reinforced concrete structures of the reactor building can maintain strength, preventing radioactive material from leaking outside the containment.