Official Website of the Republic of Belarus
News
Belarus Events Calendar
Belarus’ Top Tourist Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus
Belarusian sanatoria and health resorts
Souvenirs from Belarus
| Home | News | Photo | Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor

Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor

Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
7 Aug 2020

The loading of nuclear fuel into the reactor of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant began on 7 August.

The first fuel rod array was placed inside the nuclear reactor core at 11:45. Fueling continues.

Every fuel rod array contains 312 fuel elements 9mm in diameter and about 4m long. Fuel in one fuel rod array weighs 571kg.

A total of 163 fuel rod arrays will be placed inside the reactor. The necessary tests will follow.

The press service of the Energy Ministry said that the reactor power startup of the first unit and its connection to the national power grid are scheduled for Q4 2020.

“With the fuel loaded, the nuclear power plant will become a nuclear energy industry installation. We’ve been moving towards this goal for a certain period of time. I would like to thank everyone who worked here,” Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Nazarov said. “Scrupulous methodical work definitely improved our competences. In essence a new branch of the national economy has emerged in Belarus. And competences are the people, who will manage this process at the nuclear power plant.”

According to the deputy prime minister, the beginning of the loading of nuclear fuel is an important event not only for the nuclear power plant and the energy system but the entire country. “In his address to the nation and the parliament the head of state pointed out that the launch of the nuclear power plant opens up new prospects for Belarus. A lot of work has yet to be done but it is only the beginning. I am convinced we will manage to do the rest, too,” Yuri Nazarov concluded.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. The Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom is the general contractor. Generation III+ reactor units boast improved technical and economic parameters. The nuclear power plant is fully compliant with safety requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In its efforts to develop nuclear energy industry, Belarus relies on cooperation tools and mechanisms that international organizations offer and interacts with the European Commission.

The launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will satisfy about one third of the country’s demand for electricity. It will also allow substituting 4.5 billion m3 of natural gas per annum and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tonnes per year. The project will open up new opportunities for the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in energy industry, manufacturing sector, science, healthcare, education. It will also provide a stimulus for the development of electric transport.

Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
Belarusian nuclear power plant: fueling of plant’s first reactor
previous       1 2 3 4 5      next