OREANDA-NEWS. November 09, 2011. On November 8 at 16:40 MSK, an operation to bring the reactor installation to the minimum controlled power (MCP) was completed.

The controlled chain reaction started, i.e. standard ionizing chambers recorded first neutrons.

The achievement of MCP or criticality of the reactor is one of final stages of the first criticality program of Unit 4, which was started on October 20, 2011 when the first fuel assembly was placed in the reactor.

The Unit 4 reactor core loading was completed on October 23 with a total of 163 fuel assemblies loaded.