Leningrad nuclear power plant

Leningrad NPP is situated in the closed nuclear zone of Sosnovy Bor on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland, 80 km from St.Petersburg. It has four RMBK Chernobyl type reactors, which cannot be upgraded to western standards. In 2004 the lifetime of the first reactor was prolonged, a decision taken without environmental examination and open hearings.

The power plant has witnessed several incidents the last years, and it composes a risk not only to the population, but also to the other countries in the Baltic region. In this article you can find technical information, historical facts and information regarding safety upgrades and lifetime prolongation.

Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (LNPP) is the biggest and one of the oldest NPP in the Baltic-Nordic Region. It is located near the nuclear city Sosnovy Bor, at the Baltic Sea, 80 km west of the center Saint Petersburg, 70 km from Estonia and 100 km from Finland.

The first nuclear power unit based on water-cooled graphite-moderated High Capacity Channel type nuclear Reactors on thermal neutrons (Russian acronym RBMK-1000) having 1000 MW electric capacity was put into operation at LNPP in December 22,1973.

It was the first Chernobyl type reactor in the World.

The next LNPP units (the same design) began to generate electricity on Leningrad NPP in 1975, 1979 and 1981. The 3rd and 4th units of Leningrad NPP are situated 2 km to the west from the 1st and 2nd units.