Rosatom plans to obtain permission to commission unit 1 of the Kursk-II NPP by the end of 2025, according to Elena Ilyina, Director for State Support at Rosenergoatom (Rosatom’s electric power division). “The Kursk station is probably one of the key projects for us now, because it is in the highest degree of readiness. Four control points have already been reached, and by the end of this year we expect to receive permission to put unit 1 into pilot operation,” she said. She added that Kursk-II unit 2 should be completed in 2027 and Rosatom plans to obtain permission to begin pilot operation by the end of that year.
Kursk-II will replace the currently operating Kursk NPP, which comprises four ageing RBMK reactors (two of which are now closed) with four new units comprising Generation 3+ VVER-TOI reactors. Units 1&2 are currently under construction. The construction and commissioning of units 3&4 are planned for 2042. Units 1&2 will be the first VVER-TOI reactors to begin operation.
