About 19bn kWh of electricity generated by Belarusian nuclear power plant so far

MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – Since its linkup to the national power grid on 3 November 2020, the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has generated about 19 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. It allowed substituting over 5 billion m3 of natural gas. Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich mentioned it as he met with workers of the Vitebsk Electric Networks branch of the Vitebsk Oblast electric company Vitebskenergo, the Energy Ministry press service told BelTA.

Once the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant begins commercial operation, the power plant will generate about 18.5 billion kWh of electricity per annum. It will allow satisfying over 40% of the country's need for electricity and substituting about 4.5-5 billion m3 of imported natural gas per annum. The foreign currency burden on the economy will be reduced by over $550 million per annum.

Viktor Karankevich added that the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had completed the main stages of the commissioning program. It was linked to the country's united power grid on 13 May 2023. Comprehensive testing of the second unit's equipment will begin soon and will last for 15 days.

“As part of pilot commercial operation on some days in June-July the unit already operated at nominal power levels. It was the first time the full capacity of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had been engaged. The two units were operating at the rated output and fed electricity to the power grid,” Viktor Karankevich said. He stressed that all the electricity generated by the nuclear power plant is in demand inside the country and is consumed by the real sector of the economy and by the population.

During the meeting with the workers the energy minister talked about the realization of the industry's most important projects. Close attention was paid to the modernization of the power grid infrastructure. Viktor Karankevich dwelled on the introduction of automation and digitization solutions and answered a number of questions.