Rosatom To Put 1st Power Unit Of Belarusian NPP Into Commercial Operation In 2019 - CEO

Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom is preparing to put the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) into commercial operation before 2020, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Saturday.

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom is preparing to put the first power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) into commercial operation before 2020, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Saturday.

"We have today ... the elder brother of the Belarusian NPP - the first unit of the second stage of the Leningrad NPP - has undergone industrial tests and is operating at full capacity. It will put into commercial operation by the end of the year. So, considering this experience, we are preparing for the same procedure here [in Belarus] next year, we proceed from the fact that this should happen before the end of next year," Likhachev said at a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Rumas in Minsk.

He also noted that during the construction of the Belarusian NPP, a number of world records are being set - in terms of schedule, quality and involvement of local contractors in this work.

"The plant is the flagship project, number one in terms of attention given by the management of the state corporation, the country's leadership, to this facility," Likhachev said.

Rosatom CEO thanked the Belarusian side for cooperation at all levels - the construction site, Energy Ministry, Architecture and Construction Ministry, Emergencies Ministry. Likhachev expressed hope that the renewed composition of Belarussian government would preserve this cooperation.

Rumas noted that the Belarusian NPP was a very significant and the largest project for Minsk, including from the investments perspective.

"It is under the direct control of the head of state [Alexander Lukashenko]," the prime minister said.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near the town of Astravyets in Grodno Region. The plant's general contractor is Atomstroyexport, subsidiary of Rosatom. The nuclear power plant will consist of two power units with a total capacity of up to 2,400 MW. The plant is designed to comply with the most modern, so-called "post-Fukusima" safety standards. The launch of the NPP's first power unit is scheduled for 2019, second is planned to be launched in 2020.