BelNPP shuts down first power unit for testing systems and equipment - Energy Ministry
<p> MINSK, Dec 3 - PrimePress. The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) has been shut down, ‘in accordance with the work schedule’ for testing systems and equipment till December 11, 2020, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Belarus said in its Telegram channel on December 3. </p> <p> </p> <p> “As part of the completion of the power start-up phase at the BelNPP, the first unit was disconnected from the energy grid and the reactor plant was shut down. All systems and equipment are being tested, which will last until December 11,” Prime reports citing the Telegram channel. </p> <p> </p> <p> On December 2, 2020, the Energy Ministry of Belarus refuted allegations that there had been an accident at the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “There was no emergency situation in the cooling system of the reactor of the first power unit of the NPP contrary to claims made on the Internet,” says Spokesperson for the Energy Ministry Olga Kozlovich. She says all works at the plant are being performed as planned and comprehensive tests continue. </p> <p> </p> <p> On December 1, 2020, the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate of Lithuania requested from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus information on possible malfunctions of the reserve cooling system of the reactor of the first power unit, the system status and the impact of possible malfunctions on safety of the first unit. The request was made after the Belarusian anti-nuclear campaign released a statement on a possible incident related to the failure of the reserve cooling system. </p> <p> </p> <p> On 3 December, Lithuania’s State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate reported that the reply received from the Belarusian side on December 2 did not contain information on the status of the reactor cooling system. In this regard, the Inspectorate intends to once again call on the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations to inform about all incidents, including those that may cause public concern. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the Dec 1 report by the press office of the Energy Ministry of Belarus, comprehensive tests at the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant revealed that the lids of the steam noise absorbers needed an additional adjustment. </p> <p> </p> <p> The NPP management said on November 9 that the first unit’s turbine was stopped due to a malfunction of voltage transformers. The Energy Ministry of Belarus said on the same day that some electrical measuring equipment needed a replacement under the standard operating procedure. The NPP was reconnected to the national power grid on November 19. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Oblast 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. 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. The ceremony of the official launch of the NPP took place in early November 2020. According to presidential decree No.447 of November 30, 2020, the first power unit of the NPP will be put into commercial operation in 2021, the second power unit – in the first half of 2022. End </p>
2020-12-04
Primepress
MINSK, Dec 3 - PrimePress. The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) has been shut down, ‘in accordance with the work schedule’ for testing systems and equipment till December 11, 2020, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Belarus said in its Telegram channel on December 3.
“As part of the completion of the power start-up phase at the BelNPP, the first unit was disconnected from the energy grid and the reactor plant was shut down. All systems and equipment are being tested, which will last until December 11,” Prime reports citing the Telegram channel.
On December 2, 2020, the Energy Ministry of Belarus refuted allegations that there had been an accident at the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “There was no emergency situation in the cooling system of the reactor of the first power unit of the NPP contrary to claims made on the Internet,” says Spokesperson for the Energy Ministry Olga Kozlovich. She says all works at the plant are being performed as planned and comprehensive tests continue.
On December 1, 2020, the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate of Lithuania requested from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus information on possible malfunctions of the reserve cooling system of the reactor of the first power unit, the system status and the impact of possible malfunctions on safety of the first unit. The request was made after the Belarusian anti-nuclear campaign released a statement on a possible incident related to the failure of the reserve cooling system.
On 3 December, Lithuania’s State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate reported that the reply received from the Belarusian side on December 2 did not contain information on the status of the reactor cooling system. In this regard, the Inspectorate intends to once again call on the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations to inform about all incidents, including those that may cause public concern.
According to the Dec 1 report by the press office of the Energy Ministry of Belarus, comprehensive tests at the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant revealed that the lids of the steam noise absorbers needed an additional adjustment.
The NPP management said on November 9 that the first unit’s turbine was stopped due to a malfunction of voltage transformers. The Energy Ministry of Belarus said on the same day that some electrical measuring equipment needed a replacement under the standard operating procedure. The NPP was reconnected to the national power grid on November 19.
Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Oblast 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. 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. The ceremony of the official launch of the NPP took place in early November 2020. According to presidential decree No.447 of November 30, 2020, the first power unit of the NPP will be put into commercial operation in 2021, the second power unit – in the first half of 2022. End