Support for nuclear industry development in Belarus on the rise

About 60% of Belarusian residents support the development of the nuclear power industry in the country, Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said in an interview to the ONT TV channel, BelTA informs.

“According to opinion surveys, 28% of citizens supported the program in 2005. Today, we have this figure reaching 60%. For comparison: the number of nuclear power supporters makes up 60% in the countries with the well-developed nuclear power industry (the United States, France),” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). In line with the general contract for building the nuclear power plant the first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2018, with the second one to go online in 2020.

The construction of the BelNPP power-generating units proceeds in line with the schedule. Nearly 5,000 builders are engaged in the construction of the plant.