Business news

MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) – There are plans to spend $580 million on building the Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2017 as part of contracts signed with the Russian side, BelTA learned from the materials the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry has prepared for a session of the Ministry’s board.

As much as $580 million will be spent on building the Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2017 as part of contracts with Russian Atomstroyexport, including $522 million borrowed from Russia as a state export loan. As much as $511.98 million was spent in 2016.

In 2017 construction and installation operations will be carried out at 130 primary and auxiliary facilities of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. There are plans to pour 190,000m3 of concrete and install 26,000 tonnes of reinforcement bars.

The key operations to build the first power-generating unit will begin in 2017. Utility water will be made available at the construction site. A 330kV metalclad distribution substation will be commissioned. The reactor pressure vessel will be installed as well as the turbine plant and steam generators. The welding of the main circulation line will begin.

Since the project was launched, as much as 64% (or 755,000m3) of the required amount of concrete has been poured, with 75% (119,000 tonnes) of reinforcement bars installed. In 2016 as much as 173,000m3 of concrete was poured and 29,000 tonnes of reinforcement bars was installed. Last year saw construction and installation operations performed to build the first and second power-generating units of the Belarusian nuclear power plant as well as the facilities the entire power plant will need. Those include workshops in the free access area, a 330kV distribution substation, the building for relay panels, and other facilities. The installation of thermal technology and electric technology equipment began as well as the installation of reactor equipment.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build a VVER-1200 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The BelNPP will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The first unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, with the second one to go online in 2020.