Rosatom plans to conduct physical launch of BelNPP second unit in 2021
<p> MINSK, Mar 11 - PrimePress. Russia’s Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation plans to conduct a physical launch of the second unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) in 2021, ROSATOM Director General Alexei Likhachov said in an interview to Russia 24 TV channel. </p> <p> </p> <p> Likhachov noted that the BelNPP first unit is currently undergoing the necessary procedures related to the pilot operation stage. </p> <p> </p> <p> Likhachov said: “From time to time they reduce the load from 100% to zero, certain studies are carried out to be fully confident in its safety. Our goal, of course, this year is to move from the pilot operation category already directly into commercial operation, this applies to the first unit. And a very inspiring phase is starting on the second unit. We expect this year to receive the licence for bringing in fresh nuclear fuel and for conducting the physical launch. This is already a start, this is the birth of the plant, the reactor start-up. We very much hope that all this will happen this year as well.” </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, Olga Lugovskaya, head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of Belarus’ Ministry of Emergency Situations (Gosatomnadzor), told reporters on Mar 10 that the BelNPP 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 licence. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported on Feb 26 with reference to Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich, the level of completion of the second unit of the BelNPP is 78%. In his words, currently they are busy installing the main equipment, process pipelines, and cables. </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>
2021-03-12
Primepress
Rosatom plans to conduct physical launch of BelNPP second unit in 2021
MINSK, Mar 11 - PrimePress. Russia’s Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation plans to conduct a physical launch of the second unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) in 2021, ROSATOM Director General Alexei Likhachov said in an interview to Russia 24 TV channel.
Likhachov noted that the BelNPP first unit is currently undergoing the necessary procedures related to the pilot operation stage.
Likhachov said: “From time to time they reduce the load from 100% to zero, certain studies are carried out to be fully confident in its safety. Our goal, of course, this year is to move from the pilot operation category already directly into commercial operation, this applies to the first unit. And a very inspiring phase is starting on the second unit. We expect this year to receive the licence for bringing in fresh nuclear fuel and for conducting the physical launch. This is already a start, this is the birth of the plant, the reactor start-up. We very much hope that all this will happen this year as well.”
As previously reported, Olga Lugovskaya, head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of Belarus’ Ministry of Emergency Situations (Gosatomnadzor), told reporters on Mar 10 that the BelNPP 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 licence.
As previously reported on Feb 26 with reference to Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich, the level of completion of the second unit of the BelNPP is 78%. In his words, currently they are busy installing the main equipment, process pipelines, and cables.
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