Belarus to use Russian nuclear reactor at nuclear power plant

Belarus is ready to choose a nuclear reactor of Atomstroieksport Russian company. The Belarusian authorities find an offer of Russia to be the most advantageous.

BelTA has learnt it from Miklai Hrusha, Deputy Director General of the Sosny Unified Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, speaking at the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum in Minsk today.

He noted that Belarus was “scrupulously working on the choice of a nuclear reactor which should be of increased reliability and security”. The safest reactors nowadays are light water-cooled and moderated reactor (LWR). More than 70% of 439 energy units operational in the world are this type of reactors. Most countries (China, India) prefer this type too. The 3G reactors of increased energy safety are most suitable for Belarus.

Mikalai Hrusha said there are three producers of 3G reactor, namely the US-Japanese energy corporation Westinghouse-Toshiba, French-German AREVA and Russia’s Atomstroieksport. Belarus believes that the project with the Russian company is the most promising.

“This is due to the generation mix of Belarus. One energy unit will produce 1,000MW,” Mikalai Hrusha said.

According to Hrusha, the main competitors for a nuclear plant construction in Belarus will be Russian Atomstroieksport and Chinese Guandu Nuclear Energy Corporation.

He reminded that Chinese Guandu Nuclear Energy Corporation sent its offers on construction of the nuclear plant after proposals of three world leaders in this sector, Westinghouse-Toshiba, Areva и Atomstroieksport, had been received in August.

“The Chinese project needs further studying,” M. Hrusha said. He also noted that offers of the Chinese side met the requirements of Belarus concerning the type of a reactor – a 3G light water-cooled reactor with a capacity of 1,000MW.