Smolensk NPP Phase II Ready for Construction

Recently, the committee of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of the Russian Federation (Rostekhnadzor) officially confirmed that “Rosatom Electric Power Division” fully meets all conditions for implementing the construction activities of Units 1 and 2 of Smolensk NPP-II Phase II. The relevant compliance conclusion was issued based on the results of a special on-site inspection completed by the Northwest Interregional Directorate of Rostekhnadzor in Desnogorsk.

The expert committee, chaired by Deputy Director of the Directorate Sergey Bakaev, conducted a comprehensive review of the project's safety justification documents, quality assurance plans, engineering survey results, and personnel support, and carried out an on-site inspection of the construction site. The general contractor for the project is Titan-2 Concern JSC, and the general designer is Atomenergoproekt. Upon verification, the committee found no false information in the approval documents and confirmed that there are no substantive obstacles to issuing the construction license. Ivan Sidorov, Director of Smolensk NPP, stated that strict procedural compliance is the cornerstone of ensuring the safe and reliable operation of future units.

Smolensk NPP Phase II is planned to construct two VVER optimized reactor units with a total installed capacity of 2,400 MW. The project has been included in the "General Plan for the Layout of Electric Power Facilities through 2042" approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, aimed at ensuring a smooth clean energy replacement after the existing units reach the end of their service life. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, has repeatedly emphasized that the construction of modern generating capacity is a key step toward achieving the goal of increasing nuclear power's share in the national energy mix to 25% by 2045.

Currently, preliminary preparation works including the rebar workshop, office building, canteen, foundation of the concrete and mortar plant, and power grid infrastructure at the construction and installation base are being accelerated. Previously, the project received a positive conclusion from the state ecological experts in September and passed the approval of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) regarding the sanitary protection zone in October. The conclusion of the Main Directorate of State Construction Expertise on the design documentation for the main phase is expected to be completed by December 15, fully preparing the ground for the formal issuance of the construction license.