Balakovo nuclear power station ( []) is located in the city of Balakovo, Saratov Oblast, Russia, about 900 km south-east of Moscow. It consists of four operational reactors; fifth and sixth unit construction cancelled. Owner and operator of the nuclear power station is Rosenergoatom. Balakovo NPP participates in a twinning program between nuclear power stations in Europe and Russia; since 1990 it has been in partnership with Biblis Nuclear Power Plant.

Remix fuel tests

Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant is used for experiments with Remix Fuel. In December 2024 the third final 18-month phase of the pilot program has started with the goal to achieve closed nuclear cycle for VVER reactors. A mixture of enriched uranium with recycled uranium and plutonium received from the used nuclear fuel at other VVER reactors is used instead of a standard enriched uranium. After the first 2 stages of 3, fuel elements were inspected and were approved for the 3rd final stage. The 3rd stage should conclude in 2026 when the fuel will be unloaded and further studied. Remix fuel has a lower plutonium content of up to 5% compared with MOX fuel.

Reactor data

The Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant has four operating units: In 2018 Rosatom announced it had developed a thermal annealing technique for reactor pressure vessels which ameliorates radiation damage and extends service life by between 15 and 30 years. This had been demonstrated on unit 1.

Gallery

Incidents

On 27 June 1985 during startup of the first reactor unit, a human error (later attributed to inexperience and haste) unexpectedly opened a pressurizer relief valve, and 300 C steam caused an explosion of the turbine and entered the staff work area. Fourteen people were killed. This event is cited as one of the predecessors of the Chernobyl disaster.