Belarusian nuclear
power plant

The Volgodonsk subsidiary of AEM-Technology is set to deliver a reactor vessel for the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) in autumn 2015, Operations Director of the Atommash subsidiary Vitaly Shishov told media on 18 June, BelTA has learned.

 “We have been tasked with delivering the first reactor vessel for the Belarusian NPP in autumn 2015,” the official said. At present the production of the reactor vessel elements is almost over.

According to Vitaly Shishov, the BelNPP site with the simultaneous construction of two power-generating units, is one of the most active among NPP construction projects. He stressed that the delivery contracts are compiled so as to have a small interval, about a year, between the installation of the nuclear island equipment (including reactor vessels, steam generators) at the two power units.

Construction workers started pouring concrete into the foundation of the facilities that will make up the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant at the Ostrovets site in November 2013. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will consist of two power-generating units with the total generating capacity of up to 2,400MW (1,200MW each). The Russian design AES-2006 has been chosen to build the power plant. The design is fully compliant with international standards and IAEA recommendations. The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport (ASE) is the general designer and the general contractor for building the power plant. The timeline for implementing the project is stipulated by the general contract. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in November 2018.

While implementing the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the Russian state corporation Rosatom tightly cooperates with Belarusian partners. Rosatom will try to continue keeping Belarusian participation in the project as high as possible, BelTA learned from Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General for Development and International Business of Rosatom, during AtomExpo 2014 in Moscow on 10 June.

“The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built in tight cooperation with Belarus. We choose every contractor via a tender and always take into account the opinion of the Belarusian customer. About 80% of the ongoing construction operations are fulfilled by Belarusian construction companies. It is a very high figure for a country that is building its first nuclear power plant. When equipment deliveries start, naturally the percentage will drop. But Rosatom carefully studies information regarding capabilities of Belarusian companies in order to let them take part in the project. We will try to make the share of Belarusian companies as large as possible,” stressed Kirill Komarov.

In his opinion, the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets is being built truly successfully.

Speaking about prospects of nuclear energy construction industry in the region on the whole, Kirill Komarov said that there is space for at least several nuclear power plants. “The region needs electricity, including electricity generated by nuclear power plants. The key thing to keep in mind is who is ready to build a nuclear power plant and who only declares readiness on paper. We have slightly suspended construction work at the Baltic nuclear power plant construction site but we still intend to build it and continue making equipment for it. As far as nuclear power plants in Poland and Lithuania are concerned, they are still nothing but a declaration. We have seen nothing real in this regard yet,” noted the executive.

The 6th international forum AtomExpo 2014 is scheduled to take place in Moscow on 9-11 June. The Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) is an information partner of AtomExpo 2014.

Belarus demonstrates openness in matters concerning the development of nuclear energy. The statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus Mikhail Yezhel as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Belarus from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Ukraine, and Switzerland visited the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 27 May, BelTA has learned.

 “It is the first time I have been to such a large construction project and I am impressed by the standards,” said the Ambassador.

“The mankind has accumulated extensive experience of using nuclear energy,” said the diplomat. “Unfortunately, at times things happened that demonstrated that the matter needs to be thoroughly studied”. The Ambassador added that maximum safety is ensured during the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “I can feel that you care for safety above all. If safety is ensured, it doesn’t matter if the power plant loses a bit of output capacity,” he stressed. Mikhail Yezhel remarked that there are nuclear power plants in Ukraine, too. “I would like our countries to cooperate,” he said.

According to Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk, close attention is paid to efforts to raise the awareness of the general public in Belarus and abroad about the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Meetings are organized, contacts with mass media have been established. A public information center has been working in Ostrovets since 2010. “Over 7,000 people have already visited it, including a lot of kids and young people. We hope that the younger generation will deliver true information to the senior generation and will influence the latter’s views,” added the Deputy Energy Minister.

In his words, the center constantly offers educational programs about nuclear energy, the nature of radiation and radioactivity, innovative nuclear technologies. Thanks to such centers the population can learn reliable and full information about nuclear energy and radiation technologies. Plans have been made to set up a similar center in Minsk, said the official.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant will boast two power-generating units with the total generating capacity of up to 2,400MW (1,200MW each). The Russian design AES-2006 has been chosen to build the power plant. The design is fully compliant with international standards and IAEA recommendations. The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport (ASE) is the general designer and the general contractor for building the power plant. The timeline for implementing the project is stipulated by the general contract. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in November 2018.

Representatives of the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland are expected to visit Belarus on 26-28 May to get familiar with the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant, representatives of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department (Gosatomnadzor) of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry told BelTA.

During the visit a large number of matters concerning the establishment of Gosatomnadzor will be discussed, including licensing, inspections, and the training of specialists, said the source. The Polish experts are expected to visit the nuclear power plant construction site in Ostrovets and the information center of the enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.

BelTA has been told that the visit of Polish specialists is a reciprocal visit after a Belarusian delegation visited Poland in May 2013. Back then the Polish side presented legislation and the legal infrastructure in the area of nuclear and radiation safety, oversight and monitoring of the radiological situation in Poland. Relevant specialists from Belarus visited, in particular, the national center for nuclear research in Swierk where they were made familiar with the operation of the research reactor Maria, examined the spent nuclear fuel storage facility and the radio isotope center Polatom. The sides noted the mutual interest of regulating bodies of Belarus and Poland in ensuring regional safety and in sharing the best practices and personnel training, concluded the source.

The Polish delegation will include five people led by Janusz Wlodarski, President of the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland.

French and Finnish ecologists are ready to join the public environmental impact monitoring of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP), Chairman of the Council of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative Yuri Solovyov told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.

“Our French and Finnish counterparts confirmed their readiness to take part in the program to monitor the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus,” he said.

In his words, the matter pertains to the study of the NPP impact on the flora and fauna of the Viliya river basin not far from the NPP construction site and the impact of the plant on other environmental components in the vicinity. It is expected that this stage of the monitoring program will be launched this year.

Belarusian ecologists are working on the budget necessary for the implementation of these programs and reimbursement of the costs of transfer, catering and staying for foreign colleagues who are expected to partake in the monitoring, Yuri Solovyov said.