Opinion: Nuclear energy can satisfy growing demand for electricity

SOCHI, 21 November (BelTA) – Nuclear energy industry can satisfy the growing demand for electricity. Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich made the statement at a plenary session of the international forum Atomexpo in Sochi, BelTA has learned.

Viktor Karankevich said: “The decision to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus was made in 2008. It is a serious step towards stronger energy security. Today we have a modern nuclear power plant, which already works for the benefit of the country's economy. Since the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant went operational, over 9.6 billion kWh of electricity has been generated, allowing substituting a considerable amount of natural gas.”

The official remarked that the nuclear power plant will allow satisfying the growing demand of households and the real sector of the economy for electricity. More and more electricity is being used for heating and hot water supply. The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant contributes to the development of not only energy industry but electric transport, healthcare, and science.

Viktor Karankevich said: “It is a large-scale project for Belarusian-Russian relations. In the future interaction with Rosatom will grow, including in the area of scientific and technical support for the nuclear power plant's operation and for continuing its life cycle, for managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.”

A Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the management of spent nuclear fuel is supposed to be signed on the sidelines of the Atomexpo forum. Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich noted that it is part of the Union State program on developing nuclear energy industry.

“The realization of the project for building the Belarusian nuclear power plant gave not only a powerful impulse to the development of energy industry but allowed transitioning to a brand new level of development of the economy and the country as a whole,” the energy minister concluded.