MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) – The main stage of preparations to load imitators of fuel rod arrays into the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has begun, the ASE Company press service told BelTA. The company is the general designer and general contractor for the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The company represents the engineering division of the Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom.
The reactor unit is being assembled as part of the preparations. The internal shaft and the reflection shield in the active zone have been already assembled. Work has been done to install startup and commissioning measurement systems.
“Work to assemble the reactor unit proceeds on schedule,” noted Vitaly Polyanin, ASE Company Vice President and supervisor of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project. A number of protective pipes will be installed into their designated position soon. The loading of the imitators will begin after that.
The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using a Russian design featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. The first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, with the second one to go online in 2020.
