The first ever under construction nuclear power plant with two units, each of 1,200MW capacity in Belarus will allow the country to reduce Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) emission by 7-10m ton every year. Besides, it will ensure stable supply of eco-friendly electricity at reasonable price.
Participants were speaking at a round table conference titled “Prospects for the development of nuclear energy: safety, environmental, economic and sustainable development aspects", held in the Belarusian capital Minsk within the framework of the 23rd Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum. The RTC was organized by the Ministry of Energy of Belarus.
Significance of nuclear energy for the global energy balance and securing of a green and sustainable electricity supply to meet the growing demand were at the top of the agenda of the forum this year.
The RTC was attended by representatives of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) member states, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan among others. A Bangladesh media group comprising three energy reporters are also attending the forum.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan which are just embarking on national nuclear power programs, highlighted the achievements of Belarus in implementing their national nuclear power program and opined that the experience of Belarus would be of great value for the newcomer countries.
"Belarus is ready to share its experience gained in the implementation of the nuclear power project. The round table held at the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum allows us to exchange advanced experience and competences in the field of nuclear generation with other countries”, noted Lilia Dulinets, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Energy Department at the Belarusian Energy Ministry, who moderated the round table.
Vladimir Gorn, Deputy Director, Rosatom Eastern Europe informed the RTC participants that 454 nuclear reactors are currently being operated in 30 countries around the world. WNA (World Nuclear Agency) expects an increase in the total nuclear generating capacity up to 25% by 2050. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide emissions will not grow by a single gram due to nuclear power generation.
“The Belarusian NPP is constructed under the Russian design generation III+, which corresponds to all existing safety standards. International experts have acknowledged reliability and safety of this project. Rosatom’s portfolio of foreign construction projects now includes 36 units in 12 countries at different level of implementation. Two units that use the same design as in Belarus have already been commissioned in Russia at Novovoronezh NPP and Leningrad NPP-2", said Viktor Brich, Deputy Director for General Matters at ASE EC Office in Belarus. ASE is the general contractor (on turn-key basis) of the Belarus NPP.
Commissioning of Unit 1 of Belarus NPP is scheduled for the end of 2019, of Unit 2 – for 2020.
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will have similar design and reactors as that of Belarusian NPP.
