Over 11bn kWh of electricity generated by first unit of Belarusian nuclear power plant so far

MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) – The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has generated over 11 billion kWh of electricity since it was connected to the power grid. It allowed substituting about 3 billion m3 of natural gas. Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich mentioned the figures at a panel session on energy security of the online summit Voice of the Global South organized by India, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.

Since large reserves of conventional kinds of energy resources are not available in Belarus, the country focused on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and is now finishing the construction of a nuclear power plant of its own with two units with the output capacity of 2,400MW in accordance with the Russian nuclear power plant design AES-2006. “Our country is the first foreign site where the state corporation Rosatom has built a nuclear power plant with Generation III+ water-moderated water-cooled reactors that meets the highest safety standards,” Viktor Karankevich noted.

While other countries are only starting the realization of national nuclear programs, Belarus has already formed its own nuclear infrastructure, the Belarusian nuclear power plant operates for the benefit of the country's economy and produces a tangible effect. “The nuclear power plant is a reliable, economical, and environmentally friendly source of energy,” the official underlined. “It is a guarantor of Belarus' energy security for the next few decades and represents the country's contribution to the common cause of alleviation of climate change consequences.” Thanks to the commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by about 7 million tonnes per annum.

In order to satisfy the growing need for electricity of the real sector of the economy and Belarusian households, the country pays close attention to the development of power grid infrastructure. Work to build and modernize various power substations, high-voltage power lines, and distribution power lines using cutting-edge automation and digitization solutions is done in Belarus every year. The total length of power lines in Belarus is close to 280,000km, which is equivalent to seven lengths of the Earth's equator. The entire population of the country has access to electricity.

Systemic work continues to add locally available fuels to the country's fuel and energy budget and develop renewable energy sources. The output capacity of the country's renewable energy sources increased by more than six times in the last nine years – from 93MW to 608MW as of late 2022.

The peat industry develops dynamically. Belarus ranks 3rd in the world in terms of peat production and 1st in the world in terms of production of peat briquettes.