WANO experts complete technical support mission to assess operating readiness of BelNPP Unit 2

<p> MINSK, Apr 14 - PrimePress. Experts from the Moscow Centre of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) on 13 April 2021 completed a technical support mission to evaluate the operational readiness of Unit 2 of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast), the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Energy reported. </p> <p>   </p> <p> From April 5 to 13, 2021, experts of the Moscow Centre of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) carried out a technical support mission to assess the operational readiness of the Belarusian nuclear power plant’s Unit 2. The experts assessed the effectiveness of organizational structure and administrative management of the second unit, analyzed the conditions of personnel training; they also monitored radiation and fire protection, and maintenance of the power unit. According to Belarus’ Energy Ministry, in addition to WANO representatives, the expert group included specialists from operating NPPs in Russia, Bulgaria, the UAE, and Turkey. </p> <p>   </p> <p> "This assessment mission is not mandatory in the format of the WANO work, it is voluntary. BelNPP has voluntarily invited a team of external experts to evaluate the implementation of the project. The plant demonstrates openness, professionalism of the employees. The project is developing, we see that the plant management gives top priority to nuclear safety," Prime agency reports citing a commentary by head of the WANO expert team, Dmitri Chichikin, in the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Energy. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to the head of the expert team, the experts worked on nine areas of assessment, conducted an in-depth analysis of the current state of readiness of the second unit for the upcoming loading of fuel and subsequent inclusion in the Belarusian power grid. “We made ... a current picture of the state of the plant in relation to the subsequent start-up,” he 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. The first power unit of the NPP is expected to be put into commercial operation in 2021, the second power unit – in 2022. End </p>

2021-04-15

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