Electric power generated by BelNPP used only for domestic consumption – Belarus Energy Ministry

<p> MINSK, Feb 4 - PrimePress. Electricity generated by the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) is used only for domestic consumption and is not imported into Lithuania, said the press service of the Energy Ministry of Belarus on February 4. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “Since the first unit of BelNPP was synchronized with the power grid, as previously reported, the first billion kWh of electricity has been generated. This amount was sold to meet the domestic needs of Belarus for electricity,” reads the report. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Thus, the Ministry of Energy denies the message of head of Lithuania’s Parliamentary Committee for National Security and Defence Laurynas Kaščiūnas, who said at a closed-door meeting of the committee on February 3 that Lithuania continues importing electricity fr om Belarus in 2021, including that generated by the BelNPP. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The current balance of consumption of Belarusian electricity, that is, electricity, produced by the BelNPP, is about 12% in Lithuania, to the tune of €11 million per month. We can say that BelNPP operation is also paid for by our consumers," Prime reports citing Kaščiūnas as saying. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “12% is not a small figure, it raises questions. And to make sure of its objectivity, one should first go to the website of the Lithuanian system operator Litgrid, wh ere the value of the commercial electricity flow from Belarus is black and white. And it is equal to zero, in accordance with the decisions taken in Lithuania to stop purchasing Belarusian electricity,” the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Belarus said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, the Lithuanian government decided on January 13, 2021 to appoint a high-level commission to work out measures to enhance safety of the Lithuanian energy system, its effective synchronization with the European power grids, and measures to reduce threats posed by the Belarusian nuclear power plant, including by blocking the supply of electricity from Belarus. The Commission will be chaired by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. Lithuania’s Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys reckons the measures taken to prevent the electricity import from the Belarusian NPP to Lithuania were insufficient </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator sent in late November 2020 to Latvian and Estonian operators a revised draft methodology that will hinder trade in Belarusian electricity to be generated by the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Lithuania released the official statement on the refusal to approve the methodology for electricity trade between the Baltic States and third countries after the launch of the Belarusian NPP, since it does not guarantee the complete boycott of Belarusian electricity. Meanwhile, Latvia and Estonia are already applying the new methodology after its approval by their regulators. </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 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

2021-02-05

Primepress