Фото: t.me/Minenergo_by
A decision has been made to construct a third power unit at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP). The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Viktar Karankevich following a meeting with Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
“Based on the results of the meeting, a decision was made to develop the Astravets nuclear power plant by implementing the second phase — the construction of the third power unit. In parallel, work will be organized to study potential sites in Mahilyow Region. These additional surveys will determine where, in the future and under conditions of growing electricity consumption (if further demand is to be met through nuclear energy), nuclear energy development could take place, specifically in the Mahilyow region,” Karankevich said.
According to him, construction of the third power unit and the site surveys in Mahilyow Region will proceed simultaneously.
“But the decision on the second phase of BelNPP — that is what we will be working on now,” he said.
Commenting on the prospects for a second nuclear power plant, he added: “Future decisions on the further development of nuclear energy will be linked to the growth of electricity consumption.”
According to BelNPP Director General Siarhei Babovich, the station will require about one thousand additional employees after the third unit is built.
Two options for the future development of nuclear energy had been presented at the meeting. The first envisaged building a new power unit near Astravets as the second phase of BelNPP. The second option involved constructing a new plant in the east of the country. In the first scenario, the necessary infrastructure already exists and investment needs would be lower. In the second, costs would be higher but would provide a development boost to the region.