Opinions & Interviews

VOLGODONSK, 14 October (BelTA) – The reactor vessel for the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant complies with all the quality requirements. Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk made the statement on 14 October as he visited the Volgodonsk-based branch Atommash of the Russian company AEM Technologies, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister took part in the send-off ceremony that took place on 14 October to send the reactor vessel on its way to Ostrovets. The official was also made familiar with how the reactor vessel for the second unit and steam generators are made. Speaking about the reactor vessel for the first power-generating unit, Mikhail Mikhadyuk noted it had been made exactly on time and meets all the requirements concerning the quality of equipment for nuclear power plants. In his words, an agreement was reached with the management of the Russian company on 14 October on taking additional measures for the sake of joint quality inspections by the Belarusian and Russian sides.

Mikhail Mikhadyuk underlined that the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant and its launch will give a major impulse to the economic development of the country in addition to allowing the reduction of electricity generation costs.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). 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.