Construction of power grid linkup for Belarusian nuclear station to begin in Q2 2014

The construction of the system to collect the electricity the Belarusian nuclear power plant will generate and connect the power plant with the national power grid is supposed to begin in Q2 2014, BelTA learned from Vladimir Shaternik, Grodnoenergo Director General, during the media tour arranged for central state mass media and regional ones on 20 February.

The executive said that as the customer of the construction project the Grodno Oblast electrical company Grodnoenergo will begin implementing the project in Q2 2014. It is the most important project after building the power-generating units of the nuclear power plant. Plans have been made to build over 1,000km of 330kV overhead high-voltage power lines in Minsk Oblast, Grodno Oblast, and Vitebsk Oblast. As much as 600km of high-voltage power lines will be reconstructed and 890km of fiber optic cables will be laid. Divided into 23 stages, the large-scale construction process will be in progress virtually all over the country. More than 1,000 Chinese specialists will arrive in Belarus in order to get it done, said Vladimir Shaternik.

The project also envisages the construction of a 330kV transformer substation in Postavy, Vitebsk Oblast. Four 330kV substations in Ross and Smorgon, Grodno Oblast will be reconstructed in addition to a 220kV substation in Stolbtsy, Minsk Oblast, and a 330kV open-type-bus-and-switch arrangement at cogeneration plant No.4.

The presentation of the construction project will take place in Minsk on 3 March. North China Power Engineering Company (NCPE) has been chosen to be the general contractor for the project. The company will unveil details of the project and its participation.

The construction of the power collection and delivery system will cost $340 million, including $110 million for buying the necessary equipment and materials. A credit line from the Export-Import Bank of China to the tune of $323.8 million will cover 95% of the costs initially. The share of participation of Belarusian construction and installation companies in the construction project will be at least 45%.