Natural gas substitution effect of first unit of Belarusian nuclear power plant pointed out

MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) – The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has allowed substituting about 1.8 billion m3 of natural gas, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.

Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said that since the first unit was connected to the power grid, it has generated 6.9 billion kWh of electricity. It has allowed substituting about 1.8 billion m3 of natural gas, which is roughly what the country's population consumes per year.

Viktor Karankevich also mentioned progress in work on the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Fresh nuclear fuel has been loaded into the reactor as part of the physical launch stage. “We are at a substage when the reactor unit – the primary circuit and the secondary one – has to pass hydraulic testing,” the energy minister noted. Later on the reactor unit will have to reach a minimal controlled power level and the relevant tests and inspections will commence. Power startup and transferring electricity to the national power grid will be the next stage.

Once the second unit of the nuclear power plant is commissioned, the nuclear power plant will be able to generate about 18.5 billion kWh of electricity per annum, which will allow substituting 4.5 billion m3 of natural gas every year.