Nuclear power plant launch to spur development of electric transport in Belarus

MINSK, 24 July (BelTA) – The launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will give an impulse to the development of electric transport in Belarus, BelTA learned from Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Aleksandr Shumilin.

The official said: “Taking into account the forthcoming launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant the development of electric transport and the formation of a new transport ecosystem will become a most important priority in Belarus. A government program on the development of electric transport in 2021-2025 is being actively developed upon instructions of the head of state and the government. The program will contribute to broader use of environmentally-benign and energy-effective transport powered by electricity.”

In his words, Belarusian scientists and engineers have their own accomplishments and competences in the area of energy, radio electronics, and mechanical engineering, which will allow starting the production of electric transport components soon.

In line with the draft government program plans have been made to start making new models of electric buses, an electric truck with the carrying capacity of 10 tonnes and with preparations to install an unmanned piloting system, and modular electric vehicles with a metal composite body. Apart from that, the draft program provides for starting the production of universal battery modules to be used as part of transport vehicles and energy accumulation systems. Plans have been made to start making traction electric motors, electric cars, and various other components of electric vehicles.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using a Russian design featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. Rosatom's engineering division is the general contractor. The first unit is supposed to go online in 2020, with the second one scheduled for launch in 2021.