MINSK, 22 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian nuclear power plant has started loading nuclear fuel into the reactor core of its second unit, BelTA has learned.
On 22 December, the first nuclear assembly with fresh nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor core of the second unit. It marked the start of an important stage of the project – physical commissioning of the energy unit which main goal is to test the reliability and safety of its operation at its design capacity.
All in all, the reactor core will get 163 fuel assemblies. Each fuel assembly consists of 312 fuel rods (9mm in diameter and 4m high). Fuel in one fuel assembly will weigh 571kg.
It will be followed by reactor assembling and sealing works and hydraulic tests. After that, the unit will be prepared for power start-up, its inclusion in the country's energy grid and and pilot operation.
The second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is supposed to be commissioned in 2022.
