When unit 4 Of the Russian Balachovo Nuclear Power Station, equipped w
ith a type VVER-1000 pressurized Water reactor, was commissioned in Ma
rch 1993, delegations from Biblis were present a, consultants. The saf
ety design of the reactor is based largely on West European criteria.
Commissioning was supervised by a state commission. The Commissioning
procedure included functioning and startup tests of the subsystems of
the Plant. tests of the containment strength, revisions Of components
and systems, and a physical and an energetic startup. Experiments perf
ormed after first critically had been reached demonstrated that perfor
mance data were in line with project requirements.