Balakovo
Reactor Data
Reactor Units
Every power reactor at this site as listed in the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS): reactor type and model, net electrical capacity, grid connection and commercial operation dates, and current status.
4 units: 4 operational.
Net capacity in service: 3,800 MWe.
| Unit | Type | Model | Net MWe | Construction | Grid | Commercial Op | Shutdown | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balakovo 1 | PWR | VVER V-320 | 950 | 1980-12-02 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-05-23 | Operational | |
| Balakovo 2 | PWR | VVER V-320 | 950 | 1981-08-01 | 1987-10-08 | 1987-10-22 | Operational | |
| Balakovo 3 | PWR | VVER V-320 | 950 | 1982-11-01 | 1988-12-24 | 1988-12-29 | Operational | |
| Balakovo 4 | PWR | VVER V-320 | 950 | 1984-04-01 | 1993-04-11 | 1993-12-22 | Operational |
Capacity, milestones and suppliers
| Unit | Design MWe | Gross MWe | Thermal MWt | First Criticality | Reactor Supplier | Turbine Supplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balakovo 1 | 950 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1985-12-12 | Atomenergomash | Kharkiv Turbine Factory | |
| Balakovo 2 | 950 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1987-10-02 | Atomenergomash | Kharkiv Turbine Factory | |
| Balakovo 3 | 950 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1988-12-16 | Atomenergomash | Kharkiv Turbine Factory | |
| Balakovo 4 | 950 | 1,000 | 3,200 | 1993-03-24 | Atomenergomash | Kharkiv Turbine Factory |
Lifetime performance, through 2025
| Unit | Electricity Supplied | Load Factor | Energy Availability | Operating Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balakovo 1 | 254.6 TWh | 76.7% | 76.6% | 78.5% |
| Balakovo 2 | 246.0 TWh | 77.3% | 76.1% | 79.8% |
| Balakovo 3 | 244.8 TWh | 79.4% | 78.3% | 82.1% |
| Balakovo 4 | 230.4 TWh | 85.1% | 82.5% | 86.3% |
Operator: Joint Stock Company 'Concern Rosenergoatom'
Owner: Joint Stock Company 'Concern Rosenergoatom'
Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), as of 2026-10-19.
Working Here
Per Diem Rates FY 2026
Per diem covers lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) for government and contractor travel near this facility. Rates are from the U.S. State Department foreign per diem tables for FY 2026.
$173
Lodging/Night
$112
M&IE/Day
$285
Total/Day
Russia: rate for locations the State Department does not list separately
U.S. Department of State foreign per diem, for U.S. government and contractor travel.
Photos
Photos of this facility from the NukeWorker photo gallery. Click the header or any photo to browse the full album.
Facility Map
Interactive satellite map showing the facility's geographic location. Marker color indicates current status: green for online, red for offline, orange for reduced power. Click the header to open in Google Maps satellite view.
52.0912, 47.9553
Location & Contact
Physical address, phone number, and website for this facility. Use the directions link to get driving directions via Google Maps.
Plant Facts
About This Site
Written by NukeWorker from public records: facts that do not change. Operator, status and capacity come from the live data elsewhere on this page. Sources: Wikipedia: Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant; IAEA PRIS: Russian Federation.
The Balakovo nuclear power plant is in Saratov Oblast, Russia, at the town of Balakovo. It has four VVER-1000/320 pressurized water reactors.
Read more
Construction of Unit 1 began on December 1, 1980. Unit 1 was connected to the grid on December 24, 1985, and Unit 2 on October 8, 1987. Units 3 and 4 began construction in November 1982 and April 1984. Unit 3 was connected to the grid on December 24, 1988, and Unit 4 on April 11, 1993.