Belarus’ PM approves acceptance of nuclear plant’s Unit 2

November 15, Pozirk. On November 10, Prime Minister Raman Hałoŭčanka signed Directive No. 770 to approve the certificate of acceptance of Unit 2 at the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP).

The directive has been published on the National Legal Internet Portal.

On November 1, a special government commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parchomčyk accepted Unit 2 for commercial operation.

On the next day, Alaksandar Łukašenka approved a draft protocol calling for amendments to an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on NPP construction signed in 2011.

The Belarusian leader’s press office would not elaborate on the proposed amendments. On the same day, the government instructed Energy Minister Viktar Karankievič to start negotiations.

Located near Astraviec, Hrodna region, some 10 miles off the Lithuanian border, the Belarusian NPP has been designed by Russia’s Rosatom and built with a Russian loan. Lithuania views the plant as unsafe and describes it as a “geopolitical weapon.”

Unit 1 started pilot operation in November 2020, and commercial operation, in June 2021. It was disconnected from the grid on October 6 for maintenance. Unit 2 has been operating in a pilot mode since May 13. It successfully completed the 15-day equipment tests in mid-October, according to Russia’s Rosatom.