The Unit-6 of Russia’s Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant with the VVER-1200 light-water reactor received the ‘Top Plant-2017’ award from US-based ‘POWER’ magazine.

The plant was awarded in the nuclear power generation category, said a press release of Rosatom on Monday, reports the UNB.

It said Novovaronezh NPP is considered to be the referential project for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh which is being built by Rosatom, the Russian state atomic energy corporation.

The Rosatom said the selection procedure is based on several indicators, including the uniqueness of the technology and its effectiveness and safety.

The Jury noted that the Unit 6 is based on the latest technology, which fully complies with all post-Fukushima safety requirements.

The Novovoronezh NPP has units with all generations of Russian Water-Water Energetic Reactors (VVER), using normal water under pressure as a neutron moderator and a reactor coolant, including VVER-1200 of the latest ‘Generation 3+’ at the Unit 6.

The Rosatom said the Unit 6 was brought into commercial operation in February last. The same type of reactors will be installed at the first-ever nuclear power plant in Bangladesh at Rooppur.

VVER-1200 is a flagship nuclear reactor and a core product of Rosatom. Being an evolution of VVER-1000 reactors, the new design features improve performance across all parameters and a range of additional safety systems preventing radioactive substances from getting out of hermetically sealed containment in cases of emergency.

VVER-1200 has a 20 percent higher power capacity compared to VVER-1000. It also has an extended 60-year service life, high capacity utilisation (90 percent), and an 18-month refueling cycle, said Rosatom.