en.Wedoany.com Reported - Russia's Siberian Chemical Combine has announced the start of concrete pouring for the turbine generator foundation of the BREST-OD-300 innovative lead-cooled fast reactor at the Fourth Generation Experimental Demonstration Energy Complex (ODEC). The foundation design incorporates 36 spring vibration-damping elements, which effectively reduce vibration loads during equipment operation and can withstand seismic impacts of up to magnitude 7 (on the MSK-12 intensity scale).
The pouring will be carried out in three stages, using over 620 cubic meters of various concrete grades, from heavy to fine-grained, along with more than 100 tons of reinforcing steel and embedded parts. The turbine generator unit itself weighs over 1,700 tons, and its Russian-manufactured equipment was delivered to the site by the end of 2025. The foundation must cure for several months to reach its design strength before equipment installation, and settlement observation points have been embedded for long-term monitoring.
The BREST-OD-300 is the world's first power reactor to use molten lead as the primary circuit coolant, marking a significant step forward in the key technology of the "Proryv" (Breakthrough) project. A prototype of the main circulation pump, which must drive over 11 tons of molten lead per second at temperatures exceeding 420°C, is currently undergoing resource testing. This demonstration project aims to validate closed nuclear fuel cycle technology to address nuclear waste disposal and resource limitation issues, with the goal of achieving a safer, more sustainable next-generation nuclear power system.
The construction project for Units 1 through 4 of the Kursk NPP Phase II is part of the "General Scheme for the Placement of Electric Power Facilities in Russia until 2042," approved by the Russian government in December 2024. According to this plan, Russia will build a total of 38 new nuclear power units across 7 new regions to meet future electricity demand and drive the upgrade of the energy structure.
Kursk NPP Phase II is positioned as an innovative nuclear power project, integrating advanced technologies, high-reliability equipment, and enhanced safety systems that comply with stringent international standards. The construction of Units 1 and 2 is also included in the "New Nuclear and Energy Technologies" national project, which will continue through 2030.
The construction of this replacement plant holds strategic significance for the sustainable development of Russia's nuclear industry. Kursk NPP Phase II is currently the only power plant project in Russia utilizing the advanced VVER-TOI nuclear energy technology. Its completion will phase out the capacity of the existing RBMK-1000 units and further enhance local electricity supply security. The new units will also become an important part of the regional power grid, providing stable electricity to industrial enterprises, public facilities, and residential buildings, while creating jobs and driving regional socio-economic development.
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