Ambassador: Russia might import electricity from Belarus

OSTROVETS DISTRICT, 19 May (BelTA) – Russia might import electricity from Belarus in the future, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Boris Gryzlov.

Boris Gryzlov said: “Within the framework of industry-specific programs of the Union State of Belarus and Russia we have common programs concerning the market of natural gas, oil, and electricity. Since we have a program on the common market of electricity, then naturally it is possible to use the energy generated in Belarus for purposes of the Russian Federation.”

The output capacity of the reactor unit of the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was raised to 50% on 19 May. A ceremony timed to this event took place at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and Director General of the Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev took part in it.

Once the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is commissioned, the nuclear power plant will generate about 18.5 billion kWh of electricity per annum. It will satisfy about 40% of the country's domestic demand and will allow substituting about 4.5 billion m3 of natural gas per annum. Boris Gryzlov noted it will allow creating new energy-intensive manufacturing facilities in Belarus.

The ambassador pointed out: “The creation of a major atomic center in Belarus – the Belarusian nuclear power plant – indicates that the Union State of Belarus and Russia is moving towards mastering peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”

The Belarusian nuclear power plant uses the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. It is an evolutionary nuclear power plant design with third-generation water-moderated reactors. Such designs boast improved technical and economic parameters. A combination of active and passive safeguards is their key feature.