Name of the Project
Ostrovets nuclear power plant (NPP) 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 water-water energetic reactors (VVER).
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
Ostrovets’ first NPP GenIII+ power unit equipped with a VVER-1200 reactor, was synchronised to the grid for the first time and delivered the first kilowatt-hours of electricity to the unified power grid of Belarus on November 3.

Putting Unit 1 of the plant into commercial operation is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

On August 7, 2020, the first fuel assembly, with fresh nuclear fuel, was loaded into the Unit 1 reactor core.

On October 11, 2020, at the stage of physical startup, the reactor was brought to the minimum controlled power level of less than 1% of the rated power. In the same month, permission was obtained permission from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus to conduct the power startup works. Work is expected to be completed in early December 2020, which will be followed by the pilot operation stage.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Atomstroyexport (nuclear reactors), Rosatom Engineering Division (general designer and contractor).

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