The media began to report about the construction of such an important facility for the country's economy as the Nizhny Novgorod NPP back in 2006. The design of this station is serial and the construction of the Novovoronezh NPP is currently underway. The customer of this new facility is Energoatom Concern LLC. Actually, the project itself was developed by the specialists of the Atomproject engineering company (Nizhny Novgorod).
Expediency of construction
To date, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, unfortunately, there is not a single large power plant. With all this, there are a lot of different factories in the region. Thus, the shortage of electricity becomes a serious brake on the development of the regional economy. The construction of a nuclear power plant can help completely solve the problem. After the construction of this serious facility, among other things, thousands more new jobs will appear in the region. Experts also argue that the construction of the station will have a beneficial effect not only in Nizhny Novgorod, but also in neighboring areas. After all, the supply of electricity after the construction of nuclear power plants is supposed to be made there.
Where will Nizhny Novgorod NPP be built - final decision
When designing the NPP, two sites for its location were initially considered: 23 km from Murom, near the village of Monakovo (Navashinsky district) or 20 km southwest of Uren (Urensky district). In 2009, after extensive on-site studies, preference was given to the first option. Thus, the station will be built next to Monakov. It was estimated that the construction of nuclear power plants in this area would cost 20 billion rubles cheaper.
What awaits the population
According to the developers of the project, Nizhny Novgorod NPP is an object whose construction will not affect the environmental situation in the region. Modern stations are designed in such a way that even directly on their territory an increased radiation background is not observed. Therefore, the nearby villages in the construction site of the new nuclear power plant, of course, will not be settled. In addition, the construction of the station will become an incentive for the accelerated development of the infrastructure of the Navashinsky district.
Arguments against
Of course, not everyone is happy with the construction of the station in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. As the main argument, opponents of the construction of this facility put forward the fact that karst dips are constantly forming in the area of the village of Monakovo . However, the developers of the project reassure the population that, through geological surveys for the construction of power units, a stable area of several kilometers has been found.
Design features
It is assumed that the nuclear power plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region will consist of two power units. Their total capacity will be 2510 MW. In the future, it is planned to build two more reactors. Initially, they wanted to use VVER-1200 power units at Nizhny Novgorod NPP. However, they later decided to use a more advanced and safer option. According to the existing project, VVER-TOI water-cooled reactors will be used at the station. The NPP itself will include the main building, safety facilities, and auxiliary facilities.
Transportation at the station was initially supposed to be carried out by rail. However, later it was decided to replace it with a car. This allowed to reduce the area of the station and, accordingly, reduce costs.
VVER-TOI reactor
Replaced VVER-1200 with VVER-TOI primarily due to increased safety requirements after Fukushima. The VVER-TOI advanced nuclear reactor is capable of withstanding hurricanes and tornadoes with a wind speed of 56 m / s, an earthquake - up to 8 points, a plane crash weighing 400 tons, a shock wave with a pressure of up to 30 KPa. The advantages of the VVER-TOI reactor include , among other things, the fact that in the event of any malfunction, it immediately turns off automatically.
The opinion of physicists
Most experts consider the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region, of course, appropriate and necessary. Physicists' comments on atomic energy in most cases, of course, are positive. The advantages of building nuclear power plants include:
the relative cheapness of energy production;
ecological purity of the resulting product;
the possibility of saving space (NPPs occupy a small area in comparison with other types of stations).
However, among physicists there are opponents of the construction of such stations. Many experts consider their use an idea too dangerous.
In Nizhny Novgorod, the famous nuclear physicist A. Ozharovsky became one of the initiators of the protests against the construction of such an object as the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant. In his opinion, the Navashinsky district is not the best place for the construction of a nuclear power plant. In the world of nuclear power plants, nobody ever builds karsts. And in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in fact, a dangerous experiment will be delivered. Moreover, as A. Ozharovsky states, building a station on a karst site is riskier even than in a seismically active region.
The opinion of ordinary citizens
The construction of the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant in the Navashinsky district, of course, caused a mixed reaction in society. After the deputies agreed to the construction of this important facility, the residents of the region, in fact, divided into two camps. Some citizens favor the construction of a nuclear power plant, believing that this will have a good effect on the financial situation of the region. And consequently, it will increase the material well-being of all Nizhny Novgorod residents. Others categorically do not want to live near such a dangerous facility and organize all kinds of protests - from rallies to appeals to the president. However, according to sociologists, there are practically no chances for victory among ecologists and opponents of construction in this situation. Even despite a mostly negative public reaction, the station will still be built sooner or later.
Construction time
Of course, about when and where they will build the Nizhny Novgorod NPP, many residents would like to know not only this region, but also nearby. According to the first project, the station was supposed to start functioning in the area of the village of Monakovo in 2014. Hearings on its construction were held in 2009. The project was approved, but then they did not begin to build nuclear power plants. Opponents of the construction of the station breathed a sigh of relief. However, in January 2013, V. Katz, Vice President for Economics of NIAEP OJSC, announced that the construction of the NPP would begin in 2014. But this time too, the deadlines were postponed. According to recent statements by representatives of the administration of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, construction of a station near Monakovo will begin in 2019. The first power unit in this case will start operating in 2022, the second in 2025. Two more reactors will be built by 2030.
Interesting facts about nuclear power plants
The construction of the Nizhny Novgorod nuclear power plant, therefore, caused quite legitimate public concerns. Of course, the fears of the local population can be considered more than justified. In the event of an accident at such an object, the consequences will be not only catastrophic, but truly terrible. Moreover, this will affect residents not only of the Nizhny Novgorod region itself, but also of all nearby regions. It is worth recalling at least the same Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the accident on which led to the infection of the territory not only of Ukraine, but also of Belarus, Russia and even Europe.
The construction site of the Nizhny Novgorod NPP may not be chosen very well. However, many public concerns about such stations are still not entirely justified. In fact, only an accident at a nuclear power plant with a radiation leak is scary. In all other respects, nuclear power plants are completely safe facilities that have practically no effect on the environmental situation of the adjacent territory. So, for example:
There is an opinion that people living near nuclear power plants often have leukemia. However, this fact has not been scientifically proven. According to statistics, this disease is equally common anywhere in the world.
Some opponents of nuclear power plants believe that terrorists can send, for example, a hijacked plane, resulting in a catastrophe. However, careful research and calculations showed that no transport, passenger or military aircraft could seriously inflict any serious damage on such objects.
There is also an opinion that the radioactive waste of nuclear power plants will soon literally flood everything. However, this is also a fallacy. There is practically no waste at nuclear power plants. Already existing storage facilities are replenished no more than once every 20-40 years.
What other stations will be built in Russia in the coming years
Part of a large project, the implementation of which is planned in Russia until 2030, are the South Ural, Nizhny Novgorod and Tatar NPPs. By this time, in addition to the station in Monakovo, it is planned to build two reactors in Ozersk (Chelyabinsk region) and two in the village. Kamsky Polyany (Tatarstan).
The South Ural NPP will ultimately consist of three power units. Its capacity will be 2400 MW. Initially, several sites for this station were considered. Ultimately, the choice was made in favor of the village Metlino near the city of Ozersk. According to the project, BN-800 reactors will be installed at this station.
The Tatar NPP project was developed back in the 70s of the last century. Preparatory activities at the construction site chosen for it near the village of Kamskiye Polyany began in 1980. Unfortunately, in the spring of 1990, this facility was frozen due to lack of funds. According to the new project, four power units will be installed at the nuclear power plant. Ultimately, the station’s capacity will be 1210 MW.
Instead of a conclusion
Thus, in the article we found out where the Nizhny Novgorod NPP will be located and when it will be built. This object will be built near Murom near the village of Monakovo. Of course, the region will receive enormous benefits from the construction of a nuclear power plant. The Nizhny Novgorod deputies who made the decision to erect it can well be understood. The energy deficit in the area is really huge. But the public opinion, of course, must be taken into account without fail. At least, the authorities are simply obliged to clearly explain to the population how dangerous it is to build a station precisely near the village of Monakovo - in the karst zone.