Disconnection of Belarusian nuclear power plant's first unit from power grid explained

MINSK, 19 November (BelTA) – Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich talked to reporters on 19 November and mentioned why the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had been disconnected from the power grid, BelTA has learned.

The official said: “The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a massive and modern facility. High-tech equipment has been installed at the nuclear power plant. A sophisticated automated system constantly processes a large amount of data, thousands of impulses fed by equipment sensors in order to control the equipment of the nuclear power plant. In this case due to one incorrect signal automatic failsafes kicked in and the first unit was disconnected from the power grid. Judging by results of the diagnostics all the technological systems and equipment are operational. There are no remarks.”

In his words, upon approval of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) on 18 November specialists started bringing the output of the first unit to minimum controlled reactor power and raising the output later on. The first unit will be reconnected to the power grid soon, the energy minister said.