MINSK, 14 April (BelTA) – Director of the Nuclear Energy Department of the Belarusian Energy Ministry Aleksei Derbin spoke about the significance of the Belarusian nuclear power plant for Belarus during a city information stream at Minsk City Hall, BelTA has learned.
Aleksei Derbin noted that at a certain stage thermal power plants running on hydrocarbon raw materials accounted for more than 90% of the electricity generated in Belarus. “That was not entirely correct. The energy balance needs to include generation sources using different types of fuel. The country’s leadership understood this as well. In 2008 at a session of the Security Council the head of state decided that it was necessary to build a nuclear power plant,” he said.
The director emphasized that specialists had been tasked with selecting the safest and most efficient project. “In May 2012 excavation of the foundation pit for the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant began. In July 2012 the general contract for building the nuclear power plant was signed. In November 2020 the first unit was connected to the integrated power grid for the first time, and in November 2023 the acceptance certificate for the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was signed,” Aleksei Derbin shared.
He also reported that so far over 59 billion kWh of electricity has been generated and more than 16 billion m3 of natural gas has been replaced. “We have completely abandoned electricity import. The Belarusian nuclear power plant accounts for about 40% of all the electricity [generated] in the country,” the director noted.
In his words, the decision to build the nuclear power plant has made it possible, for example, to switch residential housing to electric heating and to actively develop electric transport. “Today the country already has more than 54,000 electric vehicles, and this number is growing very rapidly. There are also more than 2,000 charging stations,” Aleksei Derbin added.
Apart from that, the construction of such a facility has had an impact on the development of the town of Ostrovets. “The population has grown from 8,000 to more than 15,000 people. Social infrastructure has been developed: a regional medical center, two schools, and four kindergartens have been built. More than 210,000 m2 of housing, three modern neighborhoods, and two sport facilities have also been constructed. Ostrovets District consistently ranks among the top three regions of the country in terms of wages,” he said.
A high level of safety has been ensured at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “First of all, it all started with the choice of the design. We also have a sufficient number of active and passive safeguards that are ready to ensure nuclear and radiation safety in the event of an emergency. Secondly, personnel training. We initially trained specialists together with our Russian colleagues. Later on a training center was opened at the Belarusian nuclear power plant itself, which allowed us to train personnel. The safety culture, which provides for the unconditional priority of safety matters over all others, including economic ones, is also important,” the director said.
He also noted that work is already underway on the construction of the third unit at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “We see that nuclear energy is a source that will be able to cover our growing electricity needs in the future and provide us with everything necessary,” Aleksei Derbin concluded.
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