The project has been launched to replace the existing power generating facilities as the ministry estimates that by the end of the decade conventional thermal power units with a combined capacity of about 30,000 MW will have to be put out of operation in Russia due to their expired lifetime. The new reactor, with a capacity of 1,500 MW called VVER-1500, is estimated to cost $78m to design, while the construction of a power unit using this type of reactor will cost some $1.3 billion, a Rosenergoatom official told Prime-TASS. The official also said $400m should be spent on designing the reactor this year. According to Rosenergoatom, the construction of the first such reactor may be expected by 2013. The new reactor is to be constructed at the Leningrad NPP.