Belarus’ NPP construction goes as planned – Rosatom
<p> MINSK, Aug 24 - PrimePress. The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (Astravyets District, Grodno oblast) is going on normally despite the situation in Belarus, Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev told reporters on August 23 on the sidelines of the Army-2020 International Forum. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Everything is normal. The works on the first and the second power units meet the schedule. We really hope and we will do everything on our side so that the political events that are now taking place in Belarus do not in any way affect either the schedule or the project milestones,” said Likhachev. </p> <p> </p> <p> Nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor of the first power unit of the Belarusian NPP earlier in August. After a series of technological operations, which will take a while, since NPP safety is prioritized, the physical startup of the power unit will be performed and the controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the reactor core will begin. </p> <p> </p> <p> The first power unit will begin generating electricity and supply it to the national grid in the autumn. The power unit will be put into the pilot industrial operation, and then gradually reach its design capacity. The Energy Ministry of Belarus previously reported that the commissioning of the 1st power unit of the NPP was scheduled for early 2021. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Region also referred to as Astravyets) will have two units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 megawatts. The AES-2006 Russian standard design of (generation 3+) was chosen for its construction. The startup of the first power unit was postponed from 2018 to 2019 and then to the third quarter of 2020. The second unit is expected to be launched in 2021. Rosatom’s division Atomstroyexport acts as the general contractor for the NPP construction. The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant RUE is the project customer and the future operator of the NPP. </p> <p> </p> <p> Since the very beginning of the construction of the NPP, Lithuania has been making efforts to stop it, calling the NPP unsafe, and to block the future export of electricity generated by the NPP to the European Union. </p> <p> </p> <p> Massive protest actions began across Belarus on August 9, 2020 after the presidential election. The Central Election Commission officially reported that incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko polled 80.1% and would stay in office for the sixth term. The first post-election days saw a massive crackdown on nonviolent actions of protest. The riot police used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets against protesters. According to official reports, more than 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and three protesters died. </p> <p> </p> <p> Several Belarusian enterprises announced strikes and production halt. End </p>
2020-08-25
Primepress
Belarus’ NPP construction goes as planned – Rosatom
MINSK, Aug 24 - PrimePress. The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (Astravyets District, Grodno oblast) is going on normally despite the situation in Belarus, Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev told reporters on August 23 on the sidelines of the Army-2020 International Forum.
“Everything is normal. The works on the first and the second power units meet the schedule. We really hope and we will do everything on our side so that the political events that are now taking place in Belarus do not in any way affect either the schedule or the project milestones,” said Likhachev.
Nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor of the first power unit of the Belarusian NPP earlier in August. After a series of technological operations, which will take a while, since NPP safety is prioritized, the physical startup of the power unit will be performed and the controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the reactor core will begin.
The first power unit will begin generating electricity and supply it to the national grid in the autumn. The power unit will be put into the pilot industrial operation, and then gradually reach its design capacity. The Energy Ministry of Belarus previously reported that the commissioning of the 1st power unit of the NPP was scheduled for early 2021.
Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Region also referred to as Astravyets) will have two units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 megawatts. The AES-2006 Russian standard design of (generation 3+) was chosen for its construction. The startup of the first power unit was postponed from 2018 to 2019 and then to the third quarter of 2020. The second unit is expected to be launched in 2021. Rosatom’s division Atomstroyexport acts as the general contractor for the NPP construction. The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant RUE is the project customer and the future operator of the NPP.
Since the very beginning of the construction of the NPP, Lithuania has been making efforts to stop it, calling the NPP unsafe, and to block the future export of electricity generated by the NPP to the European Union.
Massive protest actions began across Belarus on August 9, 2020 after the presidential election. The Central Election Commission officially reported that incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko polled 80.1% and would stay in office for the sixth term. The first post-election days saw a massive crackdown on nonviolent actions of protest. The riot police used tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and rubber bullets against protesters. According to official reports, more than 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and three protesters died.
Several Belarusian enterprises announced strikes and production halt. End