MINSK, 23 June (BelTA) - The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) produces 27-27.5 million kWh daily. The total output of the country's energy system is about 95 million kWh, Belarus' Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said as he met with the personnel of Minsk CHP Plant 4 of Minskenergo Company on 22 June, BelTA learned from the press service of the Energy Ministry.
The daily output of electricity produced by the BelNPP first unit is higher than the daily production of the four power systems of Mogilev, Minsk, Gomel and Grodno combined. “This does not mean that there is a substitution for the electricity generated by the CHP plants. The BelNPP performs its function in the united energy system, while the plants located in the regional energy systems work to provide heating and hot water supply of large settlements and, accordingly, the electricity in the co-generation cycle,” said Viktor Karankevich.
Overall, since its connection to the unified power grid, the first unit of the BelNPP has generated almost 3.2 billion kWh of electricity. This is almost half of the country's annual electricity consumption.
The commissioning of two BelNPP power units will significantly reduce Belarus' dependence on hydrocarbon fuel. “The plant will replace about 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, while the annual volume of its import averages about 20 billion cubic meters. Savings on imported natural gas will amount to about $550 million per year,” the minister said.
The minister spoke about the work to integrate the BelNPP into the country's power grid. The results include the construction of construct high-voltage power grids with a total length of 1,600 kilometers, modernization of four backbone substations, and the commissioning of a high-tech 330kV substation Postavy. This made it possible to supply electric power from the BelNPP to any region of the country. Modern electric boilers with a total capacity of 916MW were commissioned at 20 power facilities. “They were used to help regulate the daily schedule of loads during the heating period in Q1 2021,” said Viktor Karankevich. Projects to build peak and reserve sources are in an active stage of implementation. This will increase the reliability of the country's power system.
“Despite the fact that we pay a lot of attention to the construction of the nuclear power plant and the development of power grid infrastructure, we still view the work to improve the efficiency of existing generation facilities as no less important. Systematic work will be organized at such facilities to replace equipment and improve its efficiency. This is envisaged in our industry development program,” the minister added.
The minister answered questions of the plant employees related to the BelNPP construction project, modernization of power lines and the CHP plant development.
During his visit to Minsk CHP plant 4, Viktor Karankevich was briefed on the implementation of the projects to repair buildings and facilities, optimize production areas and improve the premises of the plant, taking into account the instructions that were given by the minister during his working visit to CHP plant 4 in July 2020. Some positive results have been achieved and noted. However, according to the minister, the systematic work should be continued, first of all, to create a more comfortable working environment at the plant. Viktor Karankevich toured the turbine hall and the central control room of the power plant, got familiar with the operation of electric boilers installed at the plant. The minister was also informed on the progress made in the modernization of the plant's power unit No.6 and plans to introduce an automatic ball cleaning system for the condenser.
Photos courtesy of Belarus' Energy Ministry
