Chernobyl nuclear power plant 3
Retired Ukraine
Gross capacity
1,000MW
Chernobyl nuclear power plant 3 is a light water graphite reactor unit at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine rated at 1,000 MW gross. It is retired. Commercial operation began 8 Jun 1982.
Specification
| Reactor type | Light water graphite reactor (LWGR) |
|---|---|
| Model | RBMK |
| Size class | Large |
| Coolant | Light water |
| Moderator | Graphite |
| Gross capacity | 1,000MW |
| Net capacity (reference) | 925MW |
| Net capacity (design) | 925MW |
| Thermal output | 3,200MWt |
| Typical enrichment | 2–2.6% U-235 |
Ownership & location
| Site | Chernobyl nuclear power plant |
|---|---|
| Unit | 3 |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Owner | SE NNEGC "Energoatom"100% |
| Operator | Mintopenergo Of Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 51.3894, 30.1007 |
Fuel chain for this unit
Fuel form
Slightly enriched uranium dioxide in pressure tubes
Enrichment
2–2.6% U-235
Who makes this assembly
- TVEL Fuel Company RBMK fuel assemblies
Upstream
Enriched fuel means this unit sits downstream of five conversion plants and four enrichment operators holding 88% of world capacity between the top three.
Fabricator capability is recorded against reactor type and model line, not against named units —
utilities do not publish fuel contracts. See the fuel chain.
Timeline
- 1 Mar 1976Construction start
- 2 Jun 1981First criticality
- 3 Dec 1981Grid connection
- 8 Jun 1982Commercial operation
- 15 Dec 2000Permanent shutdown
Other units at Chernobyl nuclear power plant
| Unit | Status | Gross MW |
|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 1 | Retired | 800 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 2 | Retired | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 4 | Retired | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 5 | Cancelled | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 6 | Cancelled | 1,000 |
Other RBMK units
6 units worldwide share this model designation.
| Unit | Country | Status | Gross MW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 1 | Ukraine | Retired | 800 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 2 | Ukraine | Retired | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 4 | Ukraine | Retired | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 5 | Ukraine | Cancelled | 1,000 |
| Chernobyl nuclear power plant 6 | Ukraine | Cancelled | 1,000 |
Sources
- Global Nuclear Power Tracker, Global Energy Monitor, August 2026 release — CC BY 4.0 · retrieved 2026-09-06 · this unit last researched by GEM on 2024-05-09
- GEM.wiki entry (further reading) — CC BY-SA 4.0 — linked, not quoted