Russia: Smolensk unit 2 granted operating extension

Russia’s nuclear authority has issued a licence allowing unit 2 at the Smolensk nuclear power plant to operate for five more years. The Federal Service for Ecological, Technological & Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) justified the decision by saying that the unit complied with all modern standards and requirements. The Smolensk nuclear plant comprises three reactors, all nearing the end of their design life. The first unit has already had its lifetime extended until 2027. The second unit’s permit, which originally expired in May 2025, has now been extended to 2030 and the third unit’s permit expires in December 2034. A replacement nuclear power plant, called Smolensk-II, is being built a few kilometres away from the current facility. Earlier this year, the Russian government approved the general layout of electric power facilities until 2042, which included the first two units of the Smolensk-II plant.
Before issuing the extension licence, Rostekhnadzor experts inspected the Smolensk nuclear plant, focusing on safety measures and assessing the state of the equipment as well as the readiness of the staff to operate upgraded technical systems. At the end of the inspection, they concluded that the actual condition of the power unit 2 fully complies with the documents, justifying the extension of its operating life.