Lithuania’s MFA hands note to Belarus over incident at Belarus’ NPP
<p> MINSK, Nov 11 - PrimePress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania handed on November 11, 2020 a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus over the official information about the incident that had occurred during the commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (Astravyets District, Grodno Oblast). </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, the Belarusian NPP suspended electricity generation shortly after the launch. The first power unit of the NPP reached the 400MW capacity on November 7, 2020. In accordance with the test programs, the power unit’s capacity was expected to be gradually increased to the design capacity of 1,190 MW. The first power unit is planned to be put into commercial operation in the first quarter of 2021. Media reported on November 9 that a turbine at the first power unit was shut down due to a voltage transformers failure. </p> <p> </p> <p> The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry says that the entire international community monitors the official and factual information about the situation at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Therefore, Belarus is requested to promptly respond, explaining the incident, its causes and impacts on the process of the commissioning of the nuclear facility and on ensuring nuclear safety. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lithuania also highlighted the importance of ensuring safety culture at the NPP in Belarus, and once again called on Belarus to suspend the commissioning of the nuclear facility until the highest nuclear safety standards, environmental requirements and stress test recommendations are fully implemented. </p> <p> </p> <p> Oleg Sobolev, consultant for the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor), said that the suspension of electricity output at the Belarusian nuclear power plant does not affect nuclear and radiation safety. </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 first power unit was launched on November 3, 2020. It is expected to be put into commercial operation in February 2021; the second unit – in May 2022. End </p>
2020-11-12
Primepress
Lithuania’s MFA hands note to Belarus over incident at Belarus’ NPP
MINSK, Nov 11 - PrimePress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania handed on November 11, 2020 a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus over the official information about the incident that had occurred during the commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (Astravyets District, Grodno Oblast).
As previously reported, the Belarusian NPP suspended electricity generation shortly after the launch. The first power unit of the NPP reached the 400MW capacity on November 7, 2020. In accordance with the test programs, the power unit’s capacity was expected to be gradually increased to the design capacity of 1,190 MW. The first power unit is planned to be put into commercial operation in the first quarter of 2021. Media reported on November 9 that a turbine at the first power unit was shut down due to a voltage transformers failure.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry says that the entire international community monitors the official and factual information about the situation at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Therefore, Belarus is requested to promptly respond, explaining the incident, its causes and impacts on the process of the commissioning of the nuclear facility and on ensuring nuclear safety.
Lithuania also highlighted the importance of ensuring safety culture at the NPP in Belarus, and once again called on Belarus to suspend the commissioning of the nuclear facility until the highest nuclear safety standards, environmental requirements and stress test recommendations are fully implemented.
Oleg Sobolev, consultant for the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor), said that the suspension of electricity output at the Belarusian nuclear power plant does not affect nuclear and radiation safety.
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 first power unit was launched on November 3, 2020. It is expected to be put into commercial operation in February 2021; the second unit – in May 2022. End