OREANDA-NEWS. On September 24, OMZ (Uralmash-Izhora Group) released an update on its implementation of contracts under the Federal Program for Development of Russia’s Nuclear Energy Industrial Complex. In 2006, OMZ agreed to launch production of long-cycle equipment for nuclear power plants in anticipation of orders under the Federal Program. Financing was undertaken by Gazprombank, the company’s strategic financial partner. OMZ’s decision was aimed at significantly reducing the time required for the program’s implementation.

As reported by the company's information center, in June 2007, Izhorskiye Zavody OJSC, a part of OMZ, signed contracts with EMAalyans-Atom OJSC and ZiO-Podolsk OJSC for the production and supply of equipment for Novovoronezh NPP-2 for a total of more than RUR5 billion. The contracts provide for the production of two sets of basic equipment for a VVER-1150 reactor unit, the basic reactor unit intended for use in the NPP-2006 model reactor project. The equipment includes reactor vessels, steam generator frames, in-vessel components of more than 3,500 tons altogether.

So far, the company has received the first advance payment of RUR500 million under these contracts. By the end of September the company expects to receive a further RUR250 million. OMZ plans to deliver a reactor vessel for Novovoronezh NPP-2’s first power unit in June 2010.

The construction of the unit, which began in June 2007, is a pilot project for the NPP-2006 Federal Project undertaken under the Federal Program of Development of Russia’s Nuclear Energy Industrial Complex. The first unit is expected to be put into operation in 2012, and a second unit will become operational in 2013.