Today, many countries around the world consider the development of green energy to be an essential priority.

Nuclear power plants play a pivotal role in broadening the horizons of green energy. Consequently, several nations have recently initiated the construction of nuclear power plants.

The corresponding work in this direction has also begun in Uzbekistan. In particular, this year, an agreement was signed between the Uzatom Agency and the Rosatom State Corporation, according to which it is planned to build small modular reactors based on RITM-200 reactors with a total capacity of 330 megawatts and 55 megawatts each.

So, what are the advantages of RITM-200 reactors? How are these reactors manufactured, built, and operated?

A group of Uzbekistan media representatives recently received detailed answers to these questions while getting acquainted with the activities of the Machine-Building Factory of Podolsk JSC ZiO of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Aptekarev, Deputy Head of the Machine-Building Division of the Rosatom State Corporation, and Anton Lebedev, Director of the Machine-Building Factory of Podolsk JSC ZiO, spoke about the plant’s activities, its role in the development of nuclear energy, and the process of producing atomic technologies.

As noted, over 105 years of operation, the Machine-Building Factory of Podolsk JSC ZiO has become a leading Russian enterprise in manufacturing and supplying equipment for nuclear power plants. The enterprise has accumulated extensive experience in designing, manufacturing, supplying, installing, and operating equipment in Russia and abroad.

The plant is currently a manufacturing complex with the latest technological base. Modern management methods, production organization, and qualified personnel ensure the quality and reliability of the equipment produced. The plant’s equipment is used in more than 50 countries worldwide.

“The Machine-Building Factory of Podolsk JSC ZiO is the manufacturer of the RITM-200, a new generation nuclear power plant. It is the base for both nuclear-powered vessels and low-power floating and land-based nuclear power plants. Three companies that are part of Rosatom are involved in producing these reactors. The production processes at the plant are carried out using high technologies. Today, the nuclear power plant in Russia’s Yakutsk is also being built based on these low-power reactors. These reactors will also be installed at the nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan”, the plant’s Director A. Lebedev noted. 

According to experts, the RITM-200 reactors are the most efficient in terms of economics, ecology, and power. They are manufactured separately at the plant, then delivered to the site and installed. Only the foundation laying and excavation work are carried out on the site. Small modular reactors are placed on the finished foundation. This reduces financial costs at the production stage and improves the technology’s safety.

In addition, since small modular reactors are still used on nuclear icebreakers or other nuclear fleets, they are adapted to constant vibration and other external influences. Therefore, above-ground versions are extremely seismically resistant, durable, and technologically safe.

“Our plant is unique, with more than a century of experience. We began production of the transport reactor in 2016. The entire production process is established at the plant. Only some parts are purchased for production, we do all the rest of the work ourselves. The plant has high scientific and technical potential. If we talk about the reactor, its body consists of four parts. Each of these parts is processed separately. This work is performed by experienced specialists. We give a 60-year warranty on the reactor manufactured in accordance with all requirements”, the Head of Production Sergey Kiselev said.

As part of the event, the participants got acquainted with the production process at the plant.

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Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, photos by Doniyor Yoqubov, UzA 

Moscow, Russian Federation