At Russia’s Bilibino NPP in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, a key stage of preparation for decommissioning is underway. Specialists are unloading used nuclear fuel from the reactor cores into station cooling pools. The work is expected to take up to two years.
The final unit (unit 4) of the NPP was shut down in January. Unit 1 was shut down in 2018 and units 2&3 were closed in December. 2025. Bilibino NPP comprised four unique 12 MWe uranium-graphite pressure-tube EGP-6 reactors commissioned between 1974 and 1976. The EGP-6 reactor (Energeticheskii Geterogennii Petlevoi Reaktor) is a scaled-down version of the larger RBMK design that uses graphite as a moderator and light water for cooling with natural circulation, making it suitable for remote, permafrost regions. Used fuel from unit 1 has already been transferred to the holding pool.
“Fuel is now being unloaded from the reactor cores. The process of creating the necessary and sufficient infrastructure for radioactive waste management to ensure decommissioning is underway,” said Kornyushkina, Director of NPP Decommissioning at nuclear utility Rosenergoatom. “Both a separate block of buildings and a change in the functional purpose of existing structures is being considered so that they can be used for waste management installations”
She added that among the priority tasks was retrofitting the main building of the station for reloading used nuclear fuel into transport packaging kits. In addition, it is planned to organise a transit storage site on the territory.
After being unloaded, the fuel will be sent to the Mayak production association in Ozersk. This will take place by road, sea and rail transport. Many industry organizations will be involved in the operation, and the entire process will last for at least eight years.
After completing the unloading of fuel and obtaining a licence from regulator Rostechnadzor, the main stage of decommissioning will begin. It includes decontamination, dismantling of equipment, fragmentation. The rehabilitation of the site is planned to be completed in 2054–2055.
Bilibino NPP closed after more than half a century of operation. Now the city is provided with heat and energy by the diesel energy centre and the Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP based at Pevek. Most of the jobs at the station still remain, and after 2027, a roadmap for transfer to other divisions of Rosatom will be developed for Bilibino nuclear scientists.
