About $470m for building Belarusian nuclear station in 2014

About $470 million will be spent in 2014 on building the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA learned from First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko during the opening of the international nuclear industry expo AtomExpo Belarus 2014 on 1 April.

The money will be used to create the entire infrastructure of the nuclear power plant, explained the official. He reminded that in 2013 as much as $420 million was spent on the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

Vladimir Semashko underlined that the construction of the nuclear power plant was on schedule. The fact inspires confidence that the facility will be commissioned on time. Earlier Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk stated that no financing delays had emerged since the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant started.

First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko remarked that AtomExpo Belarus 2014 will contribute to all the processes relevant for the development of nuclear power engineering. He had no doubts that the expo features the latest technologies and equipment.

In turn, Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General for Development and International Business of the Russian state corporation Rosatom said: “Our joint efforts and this expo will allow bolstering Belarusian-Russian cooperation in nuclear industry and outlining new projects”. In his words, the construction of Belarus’ first nuclear power plant may be followed by a number of other projects in the sphere of radiation technologies and innovative nuclear research products. Rosatom is ready to assist Belarus with new deeds, stated the executive. He was confident that peaceful uses of nuclear energy will benefit Belarusians for decades.

The implementation of the government policy on nuclear power engineering and energy security in Belarus will be in the center of attention of the 6th international expo and conference AtomExpo Belarus 2014, which is taking place in Minsk through 3 April.

The Belarusian government pursues a consistent policy to develop nuclear energy, primarily focusing on building a nuclear power plant with the best safety and reliability parameters that nuclear power engineering industry can offer. Laws are developed and improved in Belarus to regulate all the aspects of the construction and operation of the nuclear power plant, the accounting of nuclear materials, the enabling of effective nuclear safety measures, the training of personnel for the nuclear industry. Laws relevant for nuclear energy researches are also developed and improved in Belarus.

For the first time the nuclear energy expo will feature a conference for nuclear industry suppliers Atomex Belarus. Participants of the conference are expected to discuss construction, the supply of equipment and the application of the latest technologies for building the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Belarusian and foreign suppliers will get a great opportunity for establishing business contacts with representatives of the customers — OAO NIAEP, ZAO Atomstroyexport, and the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.

Construction workers started pouring concrete into the foundation of the facilities that will make up the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant at the Ostrovets site in November 2013. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will boast two power-generating units with the total generating capacity of up to 2,400MW (1,200MW each). The Russian design AES-2006 has been chosen to build the power plant. The design is fully compliant with international standards and IAEA recommendations. The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport (ASE) is the general designer and the general contractor for building the power plant. The timeline for implementing the project is stipulated by the general contract. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in November 2018.