Karankevich: BelNPP second power unit to be put into operation in October 2023

The second power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) will be put into commercial operation in October 2023 – as stated today by Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich during a meeting with the President on the issues of the Belarusian NPP

In particular, he recalled that the first power unit of the station was put into operation on June 10th, 2021, “In 2022, the first scheduled preventive maintenance was carried out at the power unit with refuelling of part of the nuclear fuel. The power unit is currently operating at nominal capacity. The overall construction and technological readiness of the second power unit stands at around 98 percent. Preparatory works to start a chain reaction and bring the reactor unit to a minimum controllable level are at the final stage: this is one percent of the reactor’s power. According to experts, the first trial connection of the turbine generator to the network is planned for April 2023 at 40 percent of the reactor plant’s capacity.”

From April to September, works will be sequentially conducted to bring the reactor unit’s power up to the nominal, with tests carried out as part of pilot operation.

“The readiness for commissioning of the nuclear power plant in accordance with start-up programmes is scheduled for October 2023,” said Viktor Karankevich.