Minister: Belarus may become a world leader in share of nuclear generation in energy balance

MINSK, 21 December (BelTA) - The share of electricity generated by BelNPP already exceeds a quarter of the country's electricity production. It will continue to grow. In the future, Belarus may become one of the world leaders in terms of nuclear generation in the total energy balance. In the economies of only five countries, energy from nuclear power plants exceeds 40% of the total generation, Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said in an interview with the Economy of Belarus magazine.

Belarus became the first foreign site where Rosatom State Corporation built a nuclear power plant with water-water reactors (VVER) of generation 3+ with enhanced safety characteristics. Nuclear power units have been built under the reference design in Russia and are planned to be commissioned in Egypt, Türkiye, Hungary, and Bangladesh.

“Peaceful nuclear power ensures the production of more than 10% of the world's electricity. In total, about 440 power units are in operation. Last year alone, six new reactors were launched. According to the latest IAEA forecast, nuclear installed capacity is seen to more than double by 2050 to 890 gigawatts electric,” Viktor Karankevich said. “Bulgaria, Latvia, Latvia, Poland, France, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland and others have announced their intentions to build NPPs. More recently, 12 European states have taken the initiative to create an industrial alliance for those interested in small modular nuclear reactors.”