OREANDA-NEWS. Gidropress has completed hot testing of the SHEM-3 control rod drives it had produced for unit 1 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant under construction in Russia.

This means the control rod drives - components of the nuclear reactor core safety system - are ready for installation at the unit.

Alexander Shutikov, first deputy general director of Rosenergoatom, said last month that regulator Rostechnadzor is expected to issue a licence for first criticality at the unit in the near future.