Key events in Belarusian nuclear power plant construction in 2019 mentioned

The implementation of the largest investment project to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus continues. During the joint session of both chambers of the Belarusian parliament on 20 December Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Lyashenko mentioned key events in the construction of the nuclear power plant, which will take place in 2019.

There are plans to commission the first unit with the output capacity of 1,170MW in 2019. The physical startup of the reactor will be performed. Fuel will be loaded into the reactor, power startup will be arranged followed by tests. The reactor will have to reach 40-50% of the output capacity and will be connected to the national power grid.

Work is now in full swing in all the main buildings and facilities of the two power-generating units as well as auxiliary facilities. The second unit is scheduled to be commissioned by 1 July 2020.

Igor Lyashenko reminded that the Belarusian nuclear power plant will allow diversifying the country’s fuel and energy budget, substituting up to 5 billion m3 of imported natural gas, hence reducing its share in fuel consumption for energy generation purposes from 95% to 60%. Greenhouse gas emissions will drop to 10 million tonnes per annum.

Anticipating the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the government is busy working to integrate it into the national economy. A large-scale project was finished in November 2018 to connect the nuclear power plant with the national power grid. New high-voltage power lines were built and existing power lines were reconstructed (a total of 1,700km). A new 330kV electrical substation Postavy was commissioned. The line between the Belarusian nuclear power plant and the substation received power in December.