Operational Meeting of the Startup of KNPP Energy Block No. 4 Power Distribution Facilities Took Place at Gribovo Substation Site

Volokolamsk, Russia – On March 29, the operational meeting of the startup of KNPP energy block No. 4 power distribution facilities took place at the construction site of 750 kV Gribovo substation of FGC of UES, prior to the completion of the project.

The meeting was presided over by Oleg Budargin, Chairman of the Management Board of FGC of UES. Vasily Nikonov, Director of Power Energy Development of the Russian Ministry of Energy, Valery Groshev, Deputy Chairman of the Central Office of the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, Sergey Makarov, Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Stroytransgaz (the General Contractor), the management of FGC of UES branches: Center Main Power Transmission Lines, JSC Engineering and Construction Management Center, and representatives of other contracting companies took part in the meeting. The discussion covered the schedule of the construction facilities startup and their preparation status.

The participants highly appreciated the contractors’ work and pointed out that the facilities were constructed within the schedule approved by the Russian Government and in compliance with the scope and technical standards defined by FGC of UES.

“We are completing a major project aimed at the development of power energy in Russia. The project is unique for its scope and technologies. There have been no equals in Russia for the past twenty five years. Stroytransgaz employed high-skilled specialists and applied cutting-edge technologies in order to implement the project. Over 3,000 people and 500 equipment units were involved in the installation and commissioning process at its peak. More than seven largest Russian design institutes from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tula, and Nizhny Novgorod have provided their assistance in the course of the construction. The project has been performed by over forty subcontractors and over 100 leading Russian and foreign power equipment manufacturers, such as ABB, Alstom, Siemens, Elekrtozavod, ZETO, Zaporozhsky Transformatorny Zavod. Some unique equipment has been installed. For instance, unique Russian autotransformers АТ 750/500 kV with the highest possible unit capacity ever applied in Russia. Constructed from the ground up, the Gribovo substation has become the largest European power supply center both in total capacity and number of connections. In spite of all the project challenges, the systematization of work ensured the work performance 1.5 - 2.5 times ahead of the standard terms and in exact compliance with the schedule approved by the client”, - Sergey Makarov announced.

Additional information:

Stroytransgaz is a major Russian construction and engineering company conducting its production activity in 17 countries. Stroytransgaz has been working in the energy construction market since 2006 and at present is carrying out nine projects in power and nuclear generation. The company also implements the UNEG projects for high voltage rating facilities construction.

Under the general contract concluded with FGC of UES for the construction of power distribution facilities for Kalinin nuclear power plant (KNPP) energy block No. 4, Stroytransgaz is to provide facility design, equipment supply, construction and assembly, start-up, and commissioning works. All in all, over 440 km of 220-750 kV power lines will be constructed, more than 6,758 MVA of transformer capacity will be put into operation. At present, the final project stage undergoes — construction works are being completed, key power equipment is being installed and commissioned.

The commissioning of the main grid facilities planned for the second quarter of 2012 will provide Moscow power grid with the supply of 1,000 MW capacity by KNPP new energy block No. 4, which will give new consumers a possibility of connection and enhance the reliability of the power system. All the construction works of power grid facilities are performed in accordance with the schedule within the set terms and in full scope.