Construction of Belarusian nuclear power plant proceeds on schedule

The construction of power-generating units of the Belarusian nuclear power plant proceeds on schedule. The statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during the IAEA technical meeting on topical issues in the development of nuclear power infrastructure in Vienna on 2 February, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Mikhadyuk said: "Together with its strategic partner – the Russian state corporation Rosatom — Belarus is working hard to build the nuclear power plant. I am satisfied with the fact that the construction of both power-generating units proceeds in accordance with the schedule. Equipment is delivered to the construction site, goes through on-receipt inspections, and is handed over to assembly gangs."

The Deputy Energy Minister emphasized that the Belarus president and the government pay close attention to the construction of the nuclear power plant. All the operations needed to build the power plant and make its equipment are always overseen by the relevant agencies. Oversight remarks are summed up and reviewed on a monthly basis with assistance of the designated deputy prime minister.

"In every aspect concerning the creation of the nuclear power engineering industry Belarus closely cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Support for shaping the national system meant to train personnel for the country's nuclear energy program is one of the main directions in the IAEA technical cooperation projects that have been in progress since 2008," said Mikhail Mikhadyuk. With the IAEA's assistance a lot of work has been done to develop Belarus' nuclear energy infrastructure and bolster nuclear and radioactive safety.

Work is in progress in Belarus to shape the national personnel training system to man the nuclear engineering industry with highly-qualified professionals and to further support the relevant level of expertise for the sake of safe, reliable, and effective operation of the nuclear power plant, added the Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The BelNPP will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). In line with the general contract for building the nuclear power plant the first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2018, with the second one to go online in 2020.

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