According to Vasiliy Omelchuk, chief engineer of Kola Nuclear Power Plant, the licensing of the 4-th reactor unit to operate till the year 2014 is currently under consideration. When it comes to the two oldest reactor units, then they would receive license each year with the right to prolong it till the years 2003 and 2004 set as a maximum. Although, the engineers of Kola NPP are working on gaining a new lease on a longer service life for these reactors, some 5-7 years beyond 2004.

Kola Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP-1) operates on four VVER-440 reactors commissioned in 1973, 1974, 1981 and 1984 respectively. The two oldest reactors, now 24 and 23 years old, originally were to be shut down in 2003 and 2004.

The intention of Kola NPP to prolong the service life of the oldest reactors is prompted first of all by no-go in the construction of the new plant – Kola NPP-2. Lack of progress on Kola NPP-2 is trivial – scarce funding.