First unit of Belarusian nuclear power plant reconnected to power grid

MINSK, 21 January (BelTA) – The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has been reconnected to the power grid, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.

According to the source, the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was reconnected to the power grid at 12:19. Its output is being gradually increased in accordance with the program of the pilot commercial operation stage.

The testing of systems and equipment at the nominal output capacity will continue.

On 16 January the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was disconnected from the power grid after the generator protection system was triggered. Background radiation in the area of the nuclear power plant remained normal. According to the Belarusian national energy company Belenergo, the national power grid continued operating steadily.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. The first unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2021, with the second one expected to go online in H1 2022.