First unit of Belarusian nuclear power plant connected to power grid after scheduled checks

MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) – The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) has been reconnected to the power grid after scheduled maintenance, BelTA learned from the press service of the Energy Ministry.

“Nuclear fuel was reloaded into the reactor: 42 fuel rod arrays with fresh nuclear fuel were inserted into the reactor core. The reactor equipment, turbogenerator, main circulation pumps and other equipment and technological systems were checked, metal testing and diagnostics of welded joints of the equipment were carried out. In addition to that, a number of measures were taken to increase the reliability and efficiency of the unit,” the press service noted.

Annual scheduled maintenance and repairs are essential if nuclear power plants are to operate efficiently and reliably.

The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was put into commercial operation on 10 June 2021. Since its connection to the unified power grid on 3 November 2020, the unit has generated 18.5 billion kWh of electricity.

A reminder, the Belarusian nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400MW was built in Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. For its first nuclear power plant Belarus chose a Russian 3+ generation project.