Tatar NPP, Republic of Tatarstan: description, history and interesting facts

The exploding Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused not only environmental damage. The catastrophe of "peaceful atom" entailed a revision of the safety concept for the operation of stations, the closure of construction projects of this type and the refusal to build new nuclear power plants for many years. The orthodox decision was made under the pressure of circumstances and the public. Further development of events demonstrated that it is impossible to do without nuclear energy on a national scale. Disasters result in negligence, neglect of safety techniques and risky experiments, control of which is impossible.

Tatar NPP - the history of construction

In connection with the active construction of large industrial facilities in Tatarstan, such as the Nizhnekamsk Chemical Combine, the automobile giant KamAZ and Nizhnekamenskshina, in 1978 the government discussed the issue of increasing the region's energy supply. At that time, atomic stations were built everywhere, so it was decided to build a nuclear power plant fifty kilometers from Nizhnekamsk, where the village of Kamsky Polyany used to be.

The project of the Tatar nuclear power plant was developed by the Atomteploelectroprokt branch in Riga, the general contractor was Kamgasenergostroy. For the construction, a standard project was proposed, according to which the Balakovo NPP, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Khmelnytsky and Volgodonsk stations, not completed and the unfinished Crimean and Bashkir nuclear power plants, were already built and operated.

The construction began in 1980, the planned launch of the first power unit was to take place in 1992, the remaining power units were planned to be used as soon as it was ready. The main works were carried out in 1988, capital investments amounted to 288 million rubles, the cost of construction and installation works was estimated at 96 million rubles. According to the project, the Tatar nuclear power plant was to have a capacity of 4000 MW, which was generated by four reactors.

It is interesting that in the press there are always stories about the capacity of the unfinished station. According to rumors, it was planned to install 12 reactors. For comparison: the most powerful in Europe Zaporizhzhya NPP is equipped with only 6 reactors and its capacity is 6000 MW.

Conservation

In 1990, construction was completely discontinued. At that time, the Tatar NPP was preparing for the last stage of the work. It was planned to complete the construction of the reactor compartments, the engine rooms of the first two power units, the foundation plate of the reactor compartment of the third power unit was laid, the foundation pits for the third and fourth power plants were prepared.

According to the then existing planned construction, this stage meant the final phase of the construction of the Tatar nuclear power plant. The construction was stopped completely. In addition to the station itself, a town for power engineers was prepared - Kamskie Polyana, administrative buildings, a pressurized boiler house, a mound of the reservoir was created, auxiliary services were built. Preparations for the delivery of nuclear fuel were underway, at this stage, the facility was preserved. As fuel was not delivered, the complex itself does not present a radiation hazard.

The Tatar nuclear power plant is not the only monument to the "peaceful atom", around the former Union, about fifteen nuclear power plants have been frozen at various stages of construction in the same period.

Reasons for closure

April 17, 1990 issued a decree of the government of the TASSR "On the cessation of construction of industrial facilities of the Tatar nuclear power plant." About the causes of the construction stop reported that the station is located in the Kamsky fault zone, which is distinguished by tectonic activity. This statement was soon confirmed by a tangible earthquake in the Zakamye.

But many believe that the main reason that the construction of the Tatar nuclear power plant was stopped is the Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986. Social movements played an important role in this issue. Even the constantly feuding organizations rallied against the launch of the nuclear facility. Even then it was clear that the unfinished construction would be a stone for the budget, in connection with which the republic's leadership tried to find another use for the facility.

There were ideas, plans and even projects for the conversion of the nuclear power plant to a hydroelectric power plant, where natural sources of energy would be used. The project remained at the stage of agreement, other problems began to arise in the USSR-the change in the economic and political system.

With the past without a future

Abandoned infrastructure facilities and the Tatar nuclear power plant itself is an expense item of the republican budget, but the biggest problem has become the town of Tatarstan. Kama Polyana, where the builders lived and the future employees of the failed station. People needed to provide jobs. There were many projects. One of them supposed to create a gambling zone on the base of the village, but the idea fell as a result of the moratorium. The following proposal was no less tempting: on the territory of the nuclear power plant, create space for extreme sports, conduct quests, and use the station premises for tourist purposes.

The number of projects and proposals did not solve the main problem - the deficit of energy resources persisted, so the republican authorities regularly resumed discussion of the issue of resuscitation of the construction of such an object as the Tatar Nuclear Power Plant (Republic of Tatarstan). Attempts were made in 2003, 2005, but environmental organizations invariably vetoed the proposals.

Degrading depression

Some of the conserved nuclear power plants (Kostroma, Bashkir) after the collapse of the USSR remained on the balance of the company Rosenergoatom, Tatar nuclear power plant passed to the republican balance of Tatarstan. And if the concern allocates funds for its mothballed facilities in order to preserve material values as much as possible and be able to resume construction at any time, then in Tatarstan such need was not seen. As a result, the nuclear power station is taken away by fans of donative building materials, non-ferrous metals help to set up marauders "business."

Most of the population of the village works outside of it, many have left for Nizhnekamsk, Kazan. Someone stayed in the cage of professionals and went to the northern construction sites. The entire territory of the former nuclear power plant and the surrounding built-up area resembles a ghost town or a Zone from the Strugatsky brothers' novel, from where the abandoned legacy of the USSR is thrown into the world.

To be or not to be

In November 2013, the Russian government issued a decree on regional planning for the development of the energy complex, which focused on the construction of new nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power stations. The plan was drawn up until 2030, the beginning of its implementation is already visible in many regions of the country. The Tatar nuclear power plant is also mentioned in the document as an object that is in the top priorities of the renewal of construction.

According to the announced plans, life will return to the Kamsky Glade, when the Tatar nuclear power plant will be reanimated. The resumption of construction began with the clearance of the territory and should be completed in 2030, when the station will operate at full capacity. The first power unit is planned to be launched in 2026.

But, the question of the location of the station, still raises more fears than positive sentiments. The tectonically active Kamsky fault has not disappeared, the consequences of the destruction of the nuclear power plant are known and "tested" by experience, no one wants to admit once more the catastrophe. Civil activists and public opinion stand for the abolition of construction. To give the final answer to the question: where will the Tatar nuclear power plant be built, no one undertakes with full confidence. Kamskie Polyana is an ideal option, but no one can discount the natural factors and opinion of people living in the region.

The opinion of scientists - nuclear scientists

Passions around the construction are heating up, but scientists involved in radioecology say that after Chernobyl and Fukushima technologies have been improved, the level of safety allows installing nuclear reactors anywhere and not getting the slightest leak. Atomic energy is the safest technology to date. It is believed that CHP and HPPs pollute the environment much more, and industrial production in some regions of Russia, and Tatarstan, including, have a greater level of threat of destruction of all living things in the event of a disaster at the enterprise.

The last argument in favor of the construction ban is the seismic threat in the area of the construction of the Tatar nuclear power plant. Scientists believe that the problem is too exaggerated and give an example of the safe operation of nuclear power plants on the Kola Peninsula, Armenia, where such a danger is more likely and seismic activity manifested more than once. Perhaps the old project did not meet modern challenges, and the unfinished station was waiting for a new level of security, which can provide a modern level of technology development.

Resuscitation or a new project?

The question of where the Tatar nuclear power plant will be built has so far been resolved in favor of the Kamsky Polyan. The construction was undertaken by Rosenergoatom Concern. According to the new project, the plant's capacity will be 2300 MW, which will be provided by two 1150 MW reactors. No one will return to the old construction option, but using the rest of the infrastructure is worth it, it compensates for some costs. The cost of the current project is estimated at between $ 20 and $ 48 billion.

Supporters

The construction of nuclear power plants always resonates, and the Tatar nuclear power plant is no exception. The resumption of construction raised a storm in society. There were both supporters and opponents. The need to build a station is justified by the rapid development of Zakamye. In the economic zone in the Yelabuga region, it is planned to build one hundred and thirty energy-intensive industrial enterprises, there are big plans for the development of industrial production in Naberezhnye Chelny, the developing petrochemical industry in Nizhnekamsk needs energy, and the second phase of the Ammonium plant is planned to be built in Mendeleevsk. To meet growing needs, cheap energy is needed.

Supporters of the launch of nuclear power plants focus on the economic component of the future well-being of the whole of Tatarstan and on the safety of the use of nuclear energy. In addition, the nuclear power plant will solve the problem of unemployment in the Kamsky Polyana. Today, about 15,700 people live in the city, the vast majority of the population is forced to look for jobs far beyond the city. Often, energy experts work on a rotational basis at different construction sites or even go to other regions in search of a better share. The launch of the station will not only provide employment to the entire population, but will also increase the influx of labor, and then the number of inhabitants to 600 thousand people.

Opponents

Against the construction of nuclear power plants are environmentalists, scientists and ordinary citizens. The argument is a seismic hazard that can lead to leakage and contamination of a huge region, the death of people in a densely populated area. The consequences of the disaster can be described, but it is impossible to calculate all the losses, especially in the long term. Even today, the Chernobyl disaster presents disappointing surprises, despite the assurances of the Ukrainian authorities that the zone is completely clean.

Additional arguments for a moratorium on construction is the existence of several energy sources in close proximity to regions with industrial facilities. In particular, they point to the Nizhnekamsk hydroelectric power station, which is not operating at full capacity. Filling of the reservoir of the hydroelectric power station to the level of 68 meters (now 63 m), will allow to increase the capacity to the design 1248 MW. (Now 450 MW).

Also, some opponents say that the renewal of the region's energy independence can begin not with the Tatar nuclear power plant, but revive the station in the town of Dimitrovgrad. What is the Tatar nuclear power plant today is a completely destroyed building, only a small part of which has been preserved in integrity and only because the concrete casting can be destroyed only by a directed atomic explosion. In Dimitrovgrad, until recently, 8 reactors functioned, their designation was research and military.

Now only two of them work there, the entire infrastructure is completely ready, special works and financial expenses for re-profiling will not be required. There are several other options for solving the energy supply problem, while blaming Rosatom for lobbying its own interests to the detriment of regional interests.

The voice of the people

The majority of the population sees an outright threat from the deployment of nuclear reactors in close proximity to themselves, and rallies are organized against the resuscitation of the station. The construction of the Tatar nuclear power plant in the overwhelming majority of cases is perceived negatively.

In the republic, meetings are held at the highest level, work is being carried out with the public about the explanation of the safety of modern nuclear technologies that are planned for the Tatar nuclear power plant project. In Mamadysh, Naberezhnye Chelny and other large cities of Tatarstan, most of the population does not express support for the project. At the same time, everyone wants to live in a region with a high standard of living. The paradox is still undecidable.