OSTROVETS, 1 October (BelTA) - Today IAEA representatives have the opportunity to verify the compliance of the BelNPP with international requirements, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich said as he met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, BelTA has learned.
"We are glad that you and your colleagues have the opportunity to visit the Belarusian nuclear power plant and make sure that this large-scale high-tech facility meets the highest international requirements, primarily in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. In November of last year, the second power unit (and hence the entire plant) was put into commercial operation," Viktor Karankevich said.
BelNPP has reached the design parameters and today is successfully operating for the country's economy. The plant meets about 40% of Belarus' domestic electricity needs. Since the first unit was connected to the national grid, it has generated a total of more than 35 billion kWh of electricity.
"Thanks to the BelNPP, our country has received a number of competitive advantages and significantly strengthened energy security and energy independence. Belarus has stopped importing electricity. The country's dependence on imported hydrocarbon fuels has been reduced, and the demand for electricity from the country's consumers has increased. The peaceful atom guarantees not only energy sovereignty and sustainable development of energy systems, but also related sectors such as manufacturing industries, science, education, medicine," the deputy prime minister said.
The Belarusian nuclear power plant uses the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. It is an evolutionary nuclear power plant design with third-generation water-moderated reactors. Such designs boast improved technical and economic parameters. A unique combination of active and passive safeguards makes the nuclear power plant extremely resilient to external and internal impacts. The double shell of the reactor building will protect the Belarusian nuclear power plant in the event of an earthquake, hurricane, flood, explosion and other external impacts.
The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was put into commercial operation in June 2021, the second one - in November 2023.
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