The unit is now in the middle of the start-up process, with dummies in the reactor core being replaced with fuel assemblies. “All steps are on the schedule hour by hour,” NPP Director Vladimir Povarov says. “We have begun with loading fresh fuel in the reactor. Then we will move to assembling the reactor and performing pre-critical tests. Finally, we will reach the minimum controllable power level, followed by connection to the grid and a stepwise increase in power output.”