Since it was connected to the power grid in November 2020, the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has generated 4.6 billion kWh of electricity, Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel , BelTA has learned.

"All in all, the unit has generated 4.6 billion kWh of electricity. This made it possible to replace about 1.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Every day, the nuclear power plant produces 28 million kWh of electricity, or about 25% of the total electricity produced in the country,” Viktor Karankevich said. “With the second unit up and running, the plant will produce will about 18.5 billion kWh per year with a service life of 60 years with the possibility of extending it to 100 years, taking into account the existing practice of extending the operation of nuclear plants."

The minister recalled that the second unit will be put into commercial operation in 2022. "By the end of this year, we will start the so-called physical launch, will load fresh nuclear fuel into the reactor core at the second unit," he said.

Viktor Karankevich added that today there are 445 units of nuclear power plants in the world. "51 units are under construction. The IAEA now expects world nuclear generating capacity to double by 2050 to 12% from the current 6%," the minister said.

Source: BelTA