Belarusian NPP: launch of the first block is planned for 2018
Structure of electric power industry of the Republic of Belarusprovides for the import of electricity from Lithuania, Latvia and Russia. By 2020, when the Belarusian nuclear power plant is put into operation, the situation should change.
Historical background
Belarusian electric power industry developed inwithin the framework of a unified system for obtaining and distributing electricity in the USSR. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus has not built a single object of its own. Modernizations of all previously operated ones were carried out.
In 1986, after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plantThe most terrible consequences of the explosion were felt by the Byelorussian SSR, Gomel and Mogilev oblasts suffered severely. For reference: in Ukraine, exposure was recorded in areas of the 30-kilometer zone in the Zhytomyr and Kiev regions, on the territory of the Russian Federation, Bryansk region was partially irradiated.
The question of building an atomic power station in the Byelorussian SSR was considered back in the 90s of the 20th century. Then this issue was declared untimely for economic and political reasons.
Diplomatic decisions and official documents
The republic returned to the consideration of the question of building a nuclear power plant only in the 21st century.
In 2006, experts decided on theterritory for the nuclear facility is the Grodno region, 18 km from Ostrovets village. The Belarusian nuclear power plant could not be built by the forces of the republic due to huge investments. Therefore, three countries were invited to participate in the construction: Russia, China and the United States.
During the negotiations to consider the participation of the United States andChina in the draft, the Russian side expressed its disapproval of the resolution of the issue in favor of third countries. As a result of "diplomatic bidding" for five years (from 2006 to 2011), Russia is providing a loan of 10 billion dollars for the construction of nuclear power plants. The problem was finally closed by direct negotiations. Putin and A.G. Lukashenko in March 2011. At the same time, they announced additionally that Russia agrees with the demand of Belarus for open tenders for the purchase of equipment for nuclear power plants.
Construction of the Belarusian NPP
Excavation began from the end of 2011. The process started after the President of Belarus signed Decree No. 499 "On the construction of the Belarusian NPP", where the contractor - Atomstroyexport CJSC (a Russian company with Rosatom) was designated.
In February 2015, the start-up period of the station was adjusted: in 2018, 1 block should be put into operation, in 2020 - the second.
To date (April 2015), the work is on schedule.
Equipment suppliers are determined during open tenders. Naturally, some of them were won by Belarusian enterprises. The share of local supplies is 7.9%.
The most successful in this regard is the enterprises of Russia. Part of the auction was won by Ukraine (for example, Energomashspetsstal already supplied blanks for the main circulation pump).
To date, 15% of financing has been disbursed, 36% of reinforcement installed and 35% of concrete installed (April 2015).
What will be the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (photo)
The station will have two reactors of the typeVVER-1200/491, electric power of each of them - 1150 MW (with the ratio of using the installed capacity of 92%). The reactor has a lifetime of two years between fuel loads.
The Belarusian nuclear power plant will operate on Russian fuel. Nuclear waste will be handled by the Russian Federation.
According to the power generated by the nuclear power plant, Belarus will become the twelfth of the eighteen countries in Europe where nuclear power plants will operate.
A country | Generated by nuclear power plants, MW | |
1 | France | 66177 |
2 | Russia | 25242 |
3 | Ukraine | 13835 |
4 | Germany | 12709 |
5 | Sweden | 9769 |
6 | United Kingdom | 9203 |
7 | Spain | 7395 |
8 | Belgium | 5758 |
9 | Czech Republic | 3892 |
10 | Switzerland | 3430 |
11 | Finland | 2820 |
12 | Bulgaria | 2000 |
13 | Hungary | 2000 |
14 | Slovakia | 1844 |
15 | Romania | 1300 |
16 | Slovenia | 727 |
17 | Netherlands | 515 |
Safety at the Belarusian NPP
The station is built according to the model Russian NPP-2006 project (it contains improved technical and economic indicators of the third generation of nuclear power plants).
The project provides for the implementation of allrecommendations of the IAEA on protection from earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, even from direct hit of the aircraft. A special feature of the NPP under consideration will be the creation of an additional passive security system (without the participation of people) in combination with traditional ones. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will be supplied with a unique facility - a trap for the melt of nuclear fuel. This is so far the only invention in the world of this level: none of the existing nuclear power plants has such protection.
Personnel for nuclear energy of Belarus
Start-up of the station is scheduled for 2018, and personnelare being prepared today. Since the Belarusian nuclear power plant is built according to the Russian version of operating reactors, future specialists are trained at Novovoronezh NPP. In the Ural Federal University (Yekaterinburg) from September 1, 2015 the first 20 Belarusian students will study at the bachelor's degree.
By the end of 2015 the leadership of Belarus guarantees that its training and training center for nuclear specialists will be launched. For the time being, professionals from other countries are invited to work at the station under construction.
