The first unit of BelNPP to stop for nearly three months for preventive maintenance in late April

February 25, BPN. The first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) is scheduled to stop for preventive maintenance in late April for about 80 days, said Energy Minister Viktar Karankievič at a briefing on February 25 in Minsk.

“This is a routine technical operation carried out annually at nuclear power plants to ensure the stable operating condition of the equipment,” the official was quoted as saying by the press service of the Ministry of Energy.

He added that “extended control of technological systems and metal control of equipment in the reactor and turbine compartments” would be performed during the repairs, along with the first nuclear fuel reloading. Karankievič reminded that the reactor core of the first unit contained 163 fuel assemblies and it was necessary to replace about a quarter of them annually.

“Belarusian and Russian organizations will participate in these activities,” Karankievič noted. He also specified that Rusatom Service, a member of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, would serve as the general contractor for the nuclear island facilities, while Belenergoremnaladka, a Belarusian company, would handle the turbine facilities and auxiliary systems.

Karankievič confirmed that preparations for the start of the controlled chain reaction were nearing completion at the second unit of the BelNPP.

“The second unit is 96% ready,” he said. “In December 2021, fresh nuclear fuel was loaded into the reactor core as part of the unit’s power start-up. Reactor unit assembly is completed. The unit has undergone hydraulic tests, confirming that the systems and equipment comply with the design characteristics. <…> the reactor unit will soon be brought up to the minimum controllable power level of 1% of its full capacity. This will mark the start of the reactor’s life cycle.”

“The next step includes a neutron-physical study of its core for compliance with the design requirements. Successful completion of these tasks will allow us to move on to the next stage – the power start-up of the unit and its incorporation into the power grid. In 2022, the unit will be put into commercial operation,” Karankievič added.