Factors behind construction of BelNPP's third unit, second nuclear power plant explained

OSTROVETS DISTRICT, 19 May (BelTA) – The construction of the third unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant or another nuclear power plant is under consideration. A number of factors will influence the decision, BelTA learned from Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich on 19 May.

When asked whether Belarus will build the third unit of the existing nuclear power plant or another nuclear power plant, Viktor Karankevich said: “The development of power generation installations of the Belarusian energy industry depends on indicators of the energy security concept and the satisfaction of demand for electricity. It is necessary to balance demand and supply. I mean generation and consumption of electric energy. Once two units of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are commissioned, over 40% of the country's demand for electricity will be satisfied. The energy potential will increase considerably. It will allow satisfying the growing demand for electricity of the real sector of the economy and the population in the medium term. But we are already looking beyond that. Into 2030, 2035, 2040, 2050. Into the long-term perspective. We are making the corresponding calculations.”

According to the materials that have already been prepared, there are good prospects for increasing electricity consumption in Belarus. “As we look into this matter, we analyze the need to provide generation facilities. We consider building either the third unit [of the existing nuclear power plant] or another nuclear power plant. Organizational, technical, and ecological aspects are being looked into. Specialists and representatives of various government agencies have been invited – the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Energy Effectiveness Department of the State Standardization Committee, and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Certainly, the Energy Ministry participates in all of it. Joint work continues,” the energy minister noted.

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.