Belarusian nuclear power plant project
| Belarusian nuclear power plant | |
|---|---|
 Location of Belarusian nuclear power plant in Belarus
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| Country | Belarus |
| Location | Astravets, Hrodna Voblast |
| Coordinates | 54°45′40″N 26°5′21″E / 54.76111°N 26.08917°ECoordinates: 54°45′40″N 26°5′21″E / 54.76111°N 26.08917°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | 2013 |
| Commission date | 2019-2020 (planned) |
| Construction cost | US$10 billion |
| Nuclear power station | |
| Reactor type | VVER-1200 |
| Reactor supplier | Atomstroyexport |
| Cooling towers | 2 |
| Power generation | |
| Units under const. | 2 × 1,200 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 2,400 MW |
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Website dsae.by |
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The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a multi-reactor nuclear power plant project in Belarus. Initial plans were announced in the 1980s, but were suspended after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The drive for the current project was fueled by the Russia-Belarus energy dispute in 2007. The project foresees construction of two nuclear reactors between 2016 and 2020, and probably two more reactors by 2025. The reactors would be supplied by Atomstroyexport and the plant would be located in the Astravets district, Hrodna voblast.
In the 1980s there were plans to build a nuclear heating and power plant in Rudensk, some 50 kilometres (31 mi)south of the vicinity of Minsk. Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, these plans were halted. The plant was to comprise two VVER-1000 nuclear reactors, designed to provide both electricity and heat for the city of Minsk. The reactors would each have had a power rating of 900 MW net and 940 MW gross capacity.
The nuclear initiative was revitalized after Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union. On 22 December 1992, Belarus announced its intention to build nuclear power plants and started a program to examine 15 possible sites. It was foreseen that the first unit of 500-600 MW would be commissioned by 2005, and additional units with a combined capacity of 1,000 MW by 2005 and 2010. However, no decision concerning site or reactor type was made. In 1999, the Government of Belarus adopted nuclear moratorium.
On 2 May 2002, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus would not construct a nuclear power plant on its territory, but was interested in purchasing nuclear power from Russia, and in the possibility of constructing a Belarus-owned reactor at the Smolensk nuclear power plant in Russia. However, in mid 2006, the Government of Belarus approved a plan for the construction of an initial 2000 MWe nuclear power plant in the Mahilyow Voblast using pressurized water reactors technology.
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