In December Belarusian NPP reached its design capacity. The plant is already generating over 400 MW, and Power Unit 1 is expected to be put into commercial operation by 1Q 2021.
The power unit belongs to Generation III+ and was built exclusively with Russian technologies. The heart of the unit is a VVER-1200 reactor, which specifically combines active and passive safety systems, making the plant highly resistant to external and internal impacts. For example, all power units are equipped with a device to contain the nuclear reactor core melt, as well as other passive safety systems capable of operating in a complete power outage and without the participation of operators.
The protection and automation devices developed and manufactured by EKRA specially for BelNPP provide additional safety. They include bay control units ShEE 243A 0202, local remedial action scheme cabinets ShEE 223A 0301 for 330–750 kV overhead lines, station equipment cabinets ShE1113A and ShE1111A. Substation equipment cabinets ShE2607 051, ShE2607 171, ShE2710 241, and ShE2710 541 were also supplied for the station outdoor switchgear.
In addition, low-voltage equipment specially modified for nuclear power plants was delivered.
Special mention should be made of the remedial action scheme installed at the station. This is a unique technical solution implemented by specialists of the Power System Automation Department of EKRA according to technical requirements of Belenergo and Belenergosetproekt Institute. Technical solutions applied in the remedial action scheme, which can be upgraded to build new NPP units, suggest that it becomes the central coordinating remedial action scheme complex for the entire UES of Belarus.
Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev said, “Today, Belarus becomes a full-fledged member of the world nuclear club: the country's first and most advanced power unit has started generating electricity. For Rosatom, this is also the first project equipped with the latest generation VVER-1200 reactors and successfully implemented outside of Russia. Similar projects are being implemented in Finland, Hungary, Turkey, Bangladesh, and China.”
We wish our Belarusian colleagues a trouble-free operation and many years of reactor service.