Alexander Tsapin, Vice Governor for Construction and Energy of Voronezh region

– There is enough money but there are not enough specialists for the construction of Novovoronezh-2

The construction of the 6th and 7th units of Novovoronezh NPP has been included in the program «The Development of the Nuclear Power Complex of Russia in 2007–2010 and till 2015,» Vice Governor for Construction and Energy of Voronezh region Alexander Tsapin said during a press-conference on Jan 24.

«This year we’ll get 2.5bln RUR for the 6th unit, next year 5.5bln RUR for the start of the 7th unit and 10.5bln RUR for the 7th unit,» Tsapin said.

«It’s good news that we are in the program and Voronezh region will face no energy shortfall, but we still have many problems. This is a huge amount and a huge project, but, today, not only Voronezh but whole Russia are lacking specialists for covering such a big project. For example, the 5th unit of Rostov NPP got 10bln RUR but they managed to spend just 60% of the funds. That’s why today we really need construction capacities and professional human resources. The contractor of the project is Rosatom’s engineering company, Atomenergoproject is also involved in the project, while the sub-contractors are our Voronezh construction companies. Our proposal is to form a trust. We will have to find, recruit and train specialists and to create appropriate living and working conditions for them,» says Tsapin.

As was reported earlier, a new two-unit NPP with a total capacity of 2,136 MW and reactors of the third generation is to be built on the site of Novovoronezh NPP. The project costs 110bln RUR (all money will be allocated from the state budget) and is to be started this year. The 1st unit of the new NPP is to be launched in 2012, the 2nd unit in 2013.

The project was approved by Atomic Energy Ministry in 1999. The existing Novovoronezh NPP is the key energy supplier of not only Voronezh region but also such energy-intensive regions of Central Chenozemye as Belgorod, Lipetsk and Tambov. The plant’s project service period has come to an end, but, due to timely upgrading, the service periods of the 3rd and 4th units have been prolonged till 2016–2017. Meanwhile, in 2020 Central Chernozemye will consume 1.5 times as much as today, and the construction of the new NPP is a guarantee of energy security of the region and stability of the United Energy System of Russia.