The head of the Belarusian government, Syarhei Rumas, has recently visited the nuclear power plant in Astravets, where he discussed with the new NPP with the director general of the Rosatom State Corporation Alexei Likhachev. The Belarusian side is satisfied with the construction progress.
“We found some critical issues at every facility and solved most of them. The existing issues will be dealth with in the next two weeks. Now the work is being carried out according to the plan,” said Ihar Lyashenka, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, the government’s press service informs.
Currently, about 8 thousand people are working at the construction site of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, Belarusian organizations have completed about 60% of the total work.
Alexander Lokshin, First Deputy Director General for Operational Management of Rosatom State Corporation, noted that the Belarusian NPP will be ready to import nuclear fuel in early 2019. The construction of its first unit is basically completed.
“Installation works are being completed, commissioning begins. This year’s key event is the installation of a switchgear under voltage. We expect this to happen next week. This year, we hope to reach the stage of hydrotesting of circulation washing system — this is practically the beginning of the adjustment of the main systems of the unit,” said Alexander Lokshin.
The Belarusian NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW is being built according to the Russian project near Astravets in the Hrodna region. The first power unit is scheduled to be commissioned in 2019, the second one — in 2020.
