Belarus NPP Gets Permit for Power Start Up of Unit 1

of the Republic of Belarus, agreed to amend the licenses of the State enterprise "Belorussian NPP" and JSC ASE EC, allowing to start works based on the stage-wise program for power start-up of Unit 1. Stage-wise program of the power start-up involves a gradual rise of the reactor power from 1% to 50% and connection of the Unit to the grid at a power level of 40% and dynamic testing at a power level of 50%. Activities performed based on stage-wise program for power start up shall be finished by December, 2020.

Belarus NPP Unit 1 commissioning started on 7th August, 2020 when the first fuel assembly with fresh fuel was placed into the reactor pressure vessel. On October 11, 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.