Steady progress in building manufacturing base of Belarusian nuclear station

Preparations to begin the main phase of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are vigorous. About 60% of the work to build installations of the manufacturing base that the future nuclear power plant will need has been completed. The information was released by the press service of the united company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport after a session of the operations center in charge of building the nuclear power plant. The session was chaired by First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, BelTA has learned.

Representatives of the Belarus government took part in the meeting as well as the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate (the buyer of the facility), the united company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport (the general designer of the power plant and the general contractor), Belarusian subcontractors, and the Grodno Oblast administration.

Participants of the session examined the construction site and discussed the progress in building the manufacturing base and the power plant itself.

Work is now in progress to beautify the territory of the manufacturing base. The work on engineering networks, internal and external finishing of administration and living premises is nearly finished. The wing for special metal structures and iron reinforcements with a cold storage facility will be ready to receive iron reinforcements in late May. Offsite networks and installations for auxiliary needs, drinking water and fire water supply will be commissioned in June. The construction of all the 62 facilities of the manufacturing base and the offsite networks and infrastructure that make the operation of the manufacturing base possible will be finished in September 2013.

Massive preparations have to be completed before the main phase of the nuclear station construction begins because the annual plan provides for accomplishing a lot. According to Yuri Pustovoi, OAO NIAEP’s director for building the Belarusian nuclear power plant, to accomplish the annual plan, it is necessary to start construction and installation work at ten facilities of the nuclear island and the turbine island of the first power-generating unit.

The session also tabled purchase and delivery of equipment and the expert review of the design documents and the overall summary estimate of the Belarusian nuclear station. The excavation of the foundation pit for the second power-generating unit began on 1 February 2013. Work is now in progress at two power-generating units at the same time.

Summing up results of the session, Valery Limarenko, President of OAO NIAEP, noted that the overall progress of the nuclear power plant construction is on schedule and is considerably ahead of schedule as far as some positions are concerned. “All the issues are handled promptly. Our key task is to build Belarus’ most important power engineering installation on time,” said Valery Limarenko.