Rosatom operating division Rosenergoatom said Tuesday that Novovoronezh-II Unit 2 has been brought up to 50 percent power as the first of four pre-commissioning testing levels known as pilot operations.
Pilot operations marks the final construction phase or the first operational stage, depending on how you look at it. The other testing platforms that precede commissioning include tests at 75 percent power, 90 percent and 100 percent. The four stages are expected to be completed this year.
Novovoronezh-II Unit 2 is the third VVER-1200 reactor to reach this stage, following Leningrad II-Unit 1, which was launched in 2017 and Novovoronezh-II Unit 1.
Novovoronezh-II Unit 2 was connected to the grid on May 1, following achievement of minimal power, which occurred March 22.
Russian regulator Rostechnadzor issue a permit for the pilot operations on June 3. The primary engineer for the reactor is Atomenergoproekt, while the lead contractor was ASE.