Nuclear engineering: cheap and eco-friendly way of energy production

Belarus to stop importing electric power in 2018

Belarus is set to stop importing electric power starting from 2018, head of the energy efficiency department at the Energy Ministry of Belarus Mikhail Malashenko said at the online conference on the BelTA website on 4 December.

“We will no longer import electric power starting from 2018,” he said. This will become possible after the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) is put into operation.

The commissioning of the BelNPP will involve the use of the most efficient facilities of the energy system, with the lower specific consumption of electric power. Mikhail Malashenko noted that the specific electric power consumption of condensation stations in new units and existing units differs by about 30%. The prime cost of one KWh of energy generated by the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be considerably lower compared to the cost of energy generated today.

Mikhail Malashenko noted that after the Belarusian nuclear power plant becomes operational, electric power can be supplied to other countries. “This will help reduce the prime cost of the final product (electric power – BelTA’s note) for Belarusian consumers, be them businesses or households,” Mikhail Malashenko concluded.

As was reported earlier, Belarus has plans to purchase about 2.5 billion kWh of electric energy from abroad in 2015. Belarus cuts down on energy import ever year. In 2014 the electricity import nearly halved over 2012.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built 18km away from the town of Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The BelNPP will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in 2018, the second one in 2020.

Technologies, time frames observed in Belarusian nuclear station construction


All the technologies and time frames are observed in the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, said Lilia Dulinets, Head of the International Cooperation, Personnel Training, and Information Support Office of the Nuclear Energy Department of the Belarusian Energy Ministry, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 4 December.

“I would like to calm down everyone and say that old Soviet-style slogans and cutting corners are out of the question. Nuclear energy industry is no place for them. Everything proceeds on schedule and it is strictly monitored,” noted the specialist.

She also pointed out that the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant proceeds on schedule. “A technological process needs clearly defined time frames, therefore, everything goes on in strict compliance with technological requirements. We have an entire quality control system in place and regulating bodies work,” added Lilia Dulinets.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project. In line with the general contract for building the nuclear power plant the first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2018, with the second one to go online in 2020.

Project in development to integrate Belarusian nuclear station into national power grid


The energy industry institute BelTEI is working on the project to integrate the Belarusian nuclear power plant into the national power grid, said Mikhail Milashenko, Head of the Energy Effectiveness Office of the Belarusian Energy Ministry, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 4 December.

“The work involves several components, including the commissioning of electric boilers at existing cogeneration plants, the construction of gas turbines for peak hours,” he specified. Time-differentiated electricity rates are in development, including for households, for the sake of encouraging electricity consumption in night time and reducing electricity consumption in peak hours. Some technologies that use gas-powered heating are being converted to electrical heaters. Homes that use electricity for heating and hot water supply are being built. “It will rule out the construction of boiler houses for new homes as well as centralized and individual heating stations,” explained Mikhail Milashenko. Efforts are also put into the development of electrical transport. The possibility of using electrical lighting along motorways between oblasts is under consideration. Belarusian railroads are being electrified with a view to optimizing the daily electricity consumption schedule.

A national energy security concept has been developed and agreed with all the agencies concerned. As far as the operation of the power grid goes, the concept provides for dividing electricity generation, transportation, and sales of energy resources. In the end this conceptual document will determine how and to what agency the Belarusian nuclear power plant will answer, noted Mikhail Milashenko.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project. In line with the general contract for building the nuclear power plant the first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2018, with the second one to go online in 2020.

BelNPP to set example of eco-friendliness


The Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNNP) will set an example of an environmentally friendly facility built using the latest technological solutions, chairman of the council of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative Yury Solovyov during the online conference hosted by BelTA.

“The BelNPP construction project is unparalleled in the world in terms of environmental safety. The future plant will feature the latest active and passive safety systems that will help effectively prevent any emergencies that can cause damage to the environment or human health,” Yury Solovyov noted.

The safety system includes such unique elements as a core catcher that will prevent dangerous radioactive elements from escaping in case of emergency, extra-strong reactor containment buildings able to withstand a plane crash, and an automatic shutdown system that will protect the nuclear reactors in case of a threat to their normal operation.

Yury Solovyov pointed out that Belarus has also created an effective system of monitoring the environmental impact of the Ostrovets NPP. The system is used by the relevant government agencies and the Belarusian public environmental organizations. For non-governmental agencies it is also important to have an opportunity to get access to the construction site of the BelNPP and organize an independent monitoring of its environmental impact.