Readiness of Belarusian nuclear power plant’s second unit at 96%

Readiness of the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant stands at 96%, BelTA learned from Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich on 25 February.

The official said: “Readiness of the second unit stands at 96%. Fresh nuclear fuel – 163 fuel rod arrays – was loaded into the reactor core in December 2021 as part of the unit’s physical launch program. The reactor unit has been assembled. It has undergone hydraulic testing. The tests confirmed the systems and the equipment match design parameters.”

Preparations for starting a controlled chain reaction are nearly over at the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The reactor unit will soon reach minimal controlled power levels – 1% of the nominal power. The lifecycle of the reactor will begin then. Then the reactor core will undergo neutron physics tests to verify its compliance with design parameters. Once the work is successfully completed, it will be possible to move on to the next stage – reactor power startup and the reactor’s linkup with the country’s power grid. The second unit will begin commercial service in 2022, the energy minister said.