Construction of second reactor at Astravets nuclear plant set for mid-2022

• 3 years ago (2020-08-10)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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Alexander Lokshin, First Deputy Director General for Operation Management of Rosatom , announced plans to begin construction of a second reactor at the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus, as fuel loading began at the first reactor. Lokshin said that the second reactor is scheduled for completion in mid-2022. He said: “We will work on the second unit on schedule. It will be handed over to the customer in mid-2022.”

The second reactor will double the total capacity at the Astravets plant to 2400 MW. Both units use the AES-2006 design of the VVER-1200 reactor.

Russia financed the plant with a state loan of up to $10 billion to be repaid over a 25-year period. The plant is being built by Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom.

Astravets 1 is the first unit of the newest Gen 3+ built using Russian technology outside of Russia. There are three units of this type operating within Russia; two at Novovoronezh and one at Leningrad.

Since work started on the plant in 2011, Lithuania has fiercely opposed development, with its capital Vilnius just 50 km from the plant. Lithuania has banned all electricity imports from the plant.