Nuclear power plant allows creating new energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises in Belarus

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – The nuclear power plant has enabled conditions conducive to setting up new energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises that rely on electricity in the country. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Piotr Parkhomchik mentioned it at a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on 22 November, BelTA has learned.

Piotr Parkhomchik said: “The Belarusian nuclear power plant was commissioned in November. It was the most important event for our country. Since the first unit of the nuclear power plant was connected to the power grid, as much as 20.9 billion kWh of electricity has been generated. The amount is estimated as sufficient for substituting 5.6 billion m3 of natural gas and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by over 10 million tonnes. The construction of the nuclear power plant enables conditions conducive to setting up new energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises in the country and to developing new industries that rely on electric energy.”

In his words, in order to increase electricity consumption, a list of 382 projects has been compiled, including 32 projects as power-hungry manufacturing enterprises able to consume upwards of 15 million kWh of electricity per annum. The implementation of these projects will increase electricity consumption by 4 billion kWh by 2035, the official said.