Business news

MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) - Capital investments in the state-run company Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP) rose almost 40% in 2017, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry.

Capital investments amounted to Br1.68 billion, up 39.5% from 2016. The average number of workers engaged in the construction of the nuclear power plant is 4,950 people.

In 2017, some 17,000 tonnes of reinforcement bars were installed and 101,000 m3 of concrete was poured. Construction and installation operations were in progress at the first and second power generating units and other premises of the plant, a total of 123 facilities of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

The reactor shells, steam generators and other equipment were installed at the two power generating units. The welding of the main circulation pipe at unit No.1 was completed. The installation of turbine sets, heat engineering and electrotechnical equipment is in progress.

Four accommodation units in Ostrovets and a military camp to guard the nuclear power plant were built under the state investment program in 2017. The construction of seven more dwellings in Ostrovets is underway.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built using the Russian standard Generation III+ design AES-2006 near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, with the second one to go online in 2020.