Construction of second power-generating unit of Belarusian nuclear station ahead of schedule

The construction of the second power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is 8-10 months ahead of schedule, BelTA learned from First Vice Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko at the joint session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on 31 October.

The first power-generating unit is to be commissioned by late 2018, with the second one to go online by 1 July 2020. “Work on the first unit is in full compliance with the schedule. Work on the second unit is 8-10 months ahead of schedule when it is possible, without any detriment to quality,” said Vladimir Semashko.

The official noted that the Belarusian nuclear power plant will have the most up-to-date and most reliable power-generating units with the full set of passive and active safeguards. Similar units are in use in China and have experienced no malfunctions over the course of three years.

Before the first power-generating unit goes online a considerable amount of work has yet to be done to build the power lines and to build and remodel power substations.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using the AES-2006 design developed by the Saint Petersburg-based R&D company Atomenergoproject. The power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project. 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.