Objective

General Objective

The Kalinin-3 project consists in upgrading, completing and commissioning the 3rd unit of the Kalinin NPP.
The construction of unit 3 started in 1985 according to the original design for the Soviet VVER-1000 (model V-320).
For the known deficiencies in this design, safety upgrades have been envisaged and will be implemented.
As Kalinin-3 is currently 60 % complete, the proposed projects present an opportunity to retrofit the existing design to meet internationally recognized safety objectives as applied to Western plants of the same generation.
With a view to establish the eligibility of the project for a Euratom loan and to confirm the proper implementation of the project, studies and consultancies are envisaged. The present project addressed the environmental impact assessment.

Specific Objective

The specific objective of this Project is to enable Rosenergoatom to demonstrate that environmental impacts associated with completion and operation Kalinin NPP Unit 3 have been comprehensively addressed in the project plan for Kalinin 3 completion.
The scope of the assessment is therefore intended to be sufficient to demonstrate that the operation of the new reactor unit will be compatible with European Union standards and practices, with respect to both normal operating conditions and emergency situations.

Result

This project revealed that the environmental impact, both current and anticipated, of the Kalinin NPP is rather limited. Compared with other industrial activities and land-use modifications, the apparent impact is slight.
Nevertheless, various actions to reinforce, or otherwise enhance, environmental and radiological protection aspects of the project have been identified. Proposals and recommendations developed by project team are summarised in the final project report.
In a separate section, additional ideas and suggestions that could potentially enhance the positive impact of the project on local environmental, social and economic conditions are also outlined.