First BelNPP power unit switched on March 14 after completion of planned tests - Ministry of Energy

<p> MINSK, March 15 - PrimePress. The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) was connected to the grid on March 14, 2021, after studies of xenon transients in the reactor unit were completed, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Energy said March 15. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “Following the successful completion of studies of xenon transients in the reactor unit, the first unit of the BelNPP was connected to the grid on March 14. The reactor plant is brought up to nominal capacity,” said the Ministry of Energy in its Telegram channel. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to the Ministry of Energy, the tests will continue in accordance with the program of the pilot operation stage. “Tests of the reactor unit, both in stationary mode and dynamic tests at various power levels with unloading of the power unit, including to zero power level, are planned to be conducted at the first power unit by April 5,” the statement said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Energy said that the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) was disconnected from the grid on March 10 in accordance with the program of the pilot operation stage. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The BelNPP’s Power Unit 1 started operation and was connected to the national grid on November 3, 2020. At the end of December the unit started its pilot operation. On February 20, the first unit was scheduled to be shut down for testing and maintenance in accordance with the program of the pilot operation stage, and on March 8 it was reconnected. Before that, Unit 1 had been shut down several more times. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) will have completed the first part of pilot operation stage by the end of March 2021. Afterwards it will undergo integrated testing and in late April-early May it will be ready for final inspection before issuing the operation license. Olga Lugovskaya, head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (Gosatomnadzor), made a statement to this effect on March 10. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In her words, according to the schedule of operations, BelNPP will come to the end of the first part of the pilot operation phase by the end of March, which will be followed by a comprehensive testing. "By that time, all the works related to the safety expertise should be completed and the readiness of the operating organization to perform its function should be assessed. Gosatomnadzor will prepare an opinion report, which will be submitted to the board of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for a decision on issuing a licence," Lugovskaya said. </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>

2021-03-16

Primepress