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Second Power Unit of the VVER-1200 Reactor in Service

The second power unit - also a Russian VVER-1200 reactor - was connected to the grid in November 2020, and, according to the Ministry of Energy, the plant will produce around 18.5 TWh of electricity per year, equivalent to 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, with an annual impact on the country's economy of around $550 million.

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The second power unit of the VVER-1200 reactor is now operational, making a significant contribution to the country’s electricity supply. Since its synchronization with the grid in May and full commissioning in June, the unit has generated more than 2 TWh of electricity.

 

Successful cooperation between Russia and Belarus

According to Rosatom, under contractual obligations, responsibility for the operability of the unit’s equipment now rests with Rosatom during the warranty period.

Vitaly Polyanin, vice-president of ASE JSC and director of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project, emphasized the importance of cooperation between Russian and Belarusian specialists in the successful and timely completion of this project. He also noted that other countries, including Bangladesh, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey and China, also had projects underway to build VVER-1200 power units.

 

Challenges and delays in the construction of the nuclear power plant

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is located at Ostrovet in the Grodno region. The parties signed the general construction contract in 2011, with the first concrete poured in November 2013. Construction of Unit 2 began in May 2014. There are currently six VVER-1200 reactors in service, four of them in Russia.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stressed the importance of safety at the nuclear power plant in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. He also mentioned delays in commissioning and compensation issues, to which Rosatom responded by emphasizing their close collaboration with their Belarusian counterparts and the exceptional circumstances surrounding the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

The successful commissioning of the second power unit of the VVER-1200 reactor is a crucial step for Belarus’ energy security. As the country pursues its nuclear projects, it is essential to maintain strong cooperation and ensure that the highest safety standards are met.

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