MOSCOW, August 16. /TASS/. Russia’s civil nuclear power corporation Rosatom will prepare a feasibility study by 2023 for new conceptual projects of super-VVER (water-cooled water-moderated) large-capacity nuclear power plants, according to the corporation’s innovative development and technological upgrade program through 2030 released on Tuesday.

The document gives no details of the project.

The idea of creating a super-VVER has existed for quite a long time. The evolutionary variant of the super-VVER reactor was proposed by specialists of Russia’s Kurchatov Nuclear Research Institute in 2009.

It was presumed that a new reactor would help stabilize the fuel component, reduce financial risks and increase the competitiveness of domestic projects in competition with foreign rivals. The Institute’s specialists expected an NPP with a reactor of this type to be built already by 2021.

As of now, Russia operates 10 NPPs. Overall, 35 power units are operational, including 18 with VVER-type reactors, 15 with channel-type reactors and two with BN-600 and BN-800 fast neutron reactors.