Construction of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant began in July 2011. The first stage of the industrial base of the BelNPP, the so-called launch site with administrative and household premises, was put into operation then.
The total output capacity is 2,400MW.
The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant will:
- satisfy more than 30% of domestic electricity needs;
- substitute 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year;
- reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 7 million tonnes per year;
- ensure innovative economic development and promote advanced technologies;
- create 2,500 new jobs.
The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant uses the Russian design AES-2006 with a VVER reactor, which is the safest:
- a reinforced shell able to protect the reactor from a hurricane, an earthquake and even an aircraft crash;
- a double containment shell, a four-level protection, to prevent a possible release of radiation into the air.
A total of 190 nuclear power plants operate in 31 countries.
NPPs produce some 11% of the world's electricity.
According to the IAEA, the global NPP output capacity may double by 2050.
Source: The Energy Ministry.