The Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor of the Republic of Belarus) has issued a permit for opening of the Power Start-up stage at Unit 2 of Belarus NPP (the general designer and general contractor is Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division).

The obtained permit allows proceeding with a stage-by-stage increase in the reactor plant power up to 40% of the rated power.

“The permit for implementation of stage B (power start-up) proves that all neutron-physical characteristics of the reactor plant of Unit 2 comply with the design ones, and systems of reactor neutron flux power monitoring and control operate efficiently and reliably”, noted Vitaly Polyanin, ASE JSC Vice President - Director of Belarus NPP Construction Project. “When the reactor plant power reaches 40% of the rated power, the specialists will perform trial run of the turbine unit and its no-load testing, followed by connection to the grid with power output to the national grid of the Republic of Belarus”.

Belarus NPP Unit 1, which became the first nuclear facility of the newest generation III+ built abroad under Russian technologies, was taken over for commercial operation on June 10, 2021. The share of power generated by the unit is about 20% in the annual power balance of the country. Acceptance of Belarus NPP Unit 2 for operation is scheduled for autumn 2023.

Construction of Belarus NPP power units has become the largest energy-related project in the Union State and the basis of Russian-Belorussian interaction, covering the key areas and ensuring energy security of the states. The experience gained in cooperation of relevant agencies from Russia and Belarus allowed us to start developing new activities in various fields of the Republic’s economy, including nuclear medicine, additive and digital technologies, bringing them to a completely new level.

Belarus NPP having two VVER-1200 reactors with the total capacity of 2400 MW is being constructed in Ostrovets (the Republic of Belarus). The Russian Gen III+ design was chosen for the first nuclear power plant in Belarus, which fully complies with the international standards and the safety requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On June 10, 2021, the Belarus NPP Unit 1, the first nuclear facility of the latest III+ generation to be built abroad under the Russian technologies, was taken over for commercial operation.

Rosatom State Corporation is recognized as a global leader and the only company in the world to implement the full-scale production of nuclear power plants abroad. In total, 106 nuclear power facilities of the Russian design have already been constructed worldwide, of which 80 ones are power units equipped with VVER reactors. Presently, Rosatom international order portfolio includes 34 units equipped with VVER reactors that are being delivered at various stages in 11 countries.

Russia is consistently developing international trade and economic relations, focusing on cooperation with friendly countries. Despite external restrictions, implementation of major international projects in the energy sector is being continued. Rosatom and its enterprises are taking an active part in this work.