Third Unit of Rostov NPP Produces Its First Current to Russia’s Power Grid

The third unit of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant was connected to the Russian power grid and started to produce its first kilowatt-hours of electricity.

VOLGODONSK (Rostov Region), December 27 (Sputnik) — One of the most important events of the recent years in Russia's nuclear power industry occurred late Friday night: a new, third unit of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant was connected to the Russian power grid and started to produce its first kilowatt-hours of electricity, a source in Rosenergoatom told RIA Novosti.

"The connection of the [power] unit [of Rostov NPP] into the country's unified energy system has taken place. The unit has started to produce its first," the source said.

The source also noted that the unit's reactor is currently operating at 30 percent of its nominal thermal capacity. It is expected that the third power unit will be accepted for commercial operation in the summer of 2015, after reaching 100 percent of its thermal capacity and passing the acceptance tests.

Rostov NPP is Russia's southernmost nuclear power plant and one of the largest energy companies in the south of the country. It is located near the city of Vilgodonsk, in Russia's Rostov Region.