Dmitry Zelenin, Governor of Tver region, President of Union of Nuclear Territories and Enterprises

— Moscow and St. Petersburg need Kalnin NPP-2

Governor of Tver region, President of the Union of Nuclear Territories and Enterprises Dmitry Zelenin suggests building Kalnin NPP-2 for ensuring the energy supply of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The press service of the governor reports him as saying that Tver region is one of the most promising nuclear territories. Kalinin NPP is located at equal distance from Moscow and St. Petersburg and could well be used for energy supply to both Center and North-West on a 50/50 basis.

Presently, Kalinin NPP has three units with a capacity of 3 GW. And in 2011 the plant will launch the 1 GW 4th unit for the needs of Central Russia.

However, this is not enough for covering the energy shortfall in the Center and North-West of Russia. Zelenin says that by 2020 those regions will lack 12 GW and 6 GW, respectively. And only Kalinin NPP-2 with 4 units of a total capacity of 4 GW can solve this problem.

The world experience shows that big power plants are widely spread and efficient. For example, Japan has Kasivazaki Kariva NPP with 7 units of a total capacity of 8.2 GW. France has Gravelines NPP with 6 units of 5.5 GW. Canada has Bruce NPP – 6 units and 5.3 GW. South Korean Ulchin and Yonggwang have 6 units each and 5.8 GW and 5.9 GW respective capacities.

Besides, concentration of capacities makes the production process cheaper. Thus, the stronger KNPP, the cheaper the electricity in the Center and North-West. Besides, the construction on NPP on a ready site will cost much less.

And so, Zelenin believes that the General Scheme of Power Capacities Deployment (to be prepared by Mar 2007) should include KNPP-2. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out complex studies of the possibility of developing the capacities of the existing KNPP. Should need arise, we can revise the maximum capacity of KNPP-2.

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