Name of the Project
Ostrovets nuclear power plant project.

Location
Grodno, in Belarus.

Project Owner/s
Rosatom.

Project Description
The project entails the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Belarus. It involves the construction of two 1 200 MW nuclear power reactors.

The plant will be fitted with cutting-edge accident-protection systems.

The so-called core melt trap will be installed at the power units. This is a unique Russian invention and confines melted products if the reactor core melts down. The nuclear power plant is expected to produce about 25% of the electricity that Belarus needs.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
$10-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Preliminary construction work began at the site in April. The reactors are scheduled for commissioning in 2020 and 2021.

Latest Developments
Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant has achieved first criticality on October 11.

First criticality, also referred to as the minimum controlled power level, is reached when neutron flux is recorded in a reactor at a level sufficient to sustain a fission chain reaction. It is considered to be the final stage of the physical startup procedure, and enables personnel to verify whether the physical characteristics of the reactor core comply with the design requirements.

Rosatom has said that specialists will conduct more than 50 physical experiments on the neutronic characteristics of the reactor's first fuel charge, as well as confirm the operational reliability of the reactor’s entire monitoring and safety systems.

The results of these experiments will be submitted to Belarusian nuclear watchdog Gosatomnadzor, whose permission is required for power startup. If the results are found satisfactory and permission is granted, the unit will be prepared for power startup when the reactor power is gradually increased.

On October 23, the board of the Belarus Ministry for Emergency situations of Belarus, based on the resolution of the State Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Belarus, agreed  to amend the licences of the State enterprise Belorussian NPP and JSC ASE EC, allowing for works to start on the stage-wise programme for power startup of Unit 1.

The stage-wise programme of the power startup involves a gradual increase of the reactor power from 1% to 50%, connection of the unit to the grid at 40% power and dynamic testing at  50% power. Activities performed based on the stage-wise programme for power startup will be finished by December 2020.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Atomstroyexport (nuclear reactors).

Contact Details for Project Information
Rosatom communications department, tel +7 499 949 4412, fax +7 499 949 2722 or email press@rosatom.ru.