Belarus approves power start-up of Ostrovets unit

The phased process of start-up involves a gradual increase in the reactor unit’s power generating capacity from 1% to 50%, its connection to the grid at a power level of 40% and dynamic testing at a power level of 50%. This process will be completed by December, Rosatom said.

Commissioning started on 7 August, when the first assembly with fresh nuclear fuel was inserted into the reactor pressure vessel. On 11 October, at the stage of physical start-up, the reactor was brought to the minimum controlled power level (less than 1% of the rated power). In total, more than 50 physical measurements were performed during the physical start-up stage, which confirmed that the nuclear and physical characteristics of the reactor comply with design parameters, Rosatom said.

The plant, which is in Ostrovets in the Grodno region of Belarus, consists of two VVER-1200. It is the first to use this reactor outside Russia. Currently, three VVER-1200 units are in operation in Russia: two at the Novovoronezh NPP and one at the Leningrad NPP. The fourth - also at the Leningrad NPP - began grid-connected trial operation on 22 October. Rosatom also has VVER-1200 projects in Bangladesh, Egypt, Finland, Hungary and Turkey.