MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – The construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus will bring down energy production prime cost by 20%, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during the online conference on the BelTA website on 22 January.
“The study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus revealed that after the nuclear power plant is commissioned the prime cost of electric energy production will be reduced by about 20%, the calculations however did not take into consideration the increase in gas prices. The purchase of natural gas will decrease by 4-5 billion cubic meters,” the Deputy Energy Minister said.
The analysis shows that fuel accounts for 12% to 25% of the prime cost of the electric energy production at nuclear power stations worldwide, while at regular electric power stations this figure comes up to 70%. Thus, the rise in uranium prices will not result in a considerable increase in tariffs like it would happen in case the prices for organic raw materials rise.
The construction of the nuclear power plant will strengthen the energy security of Belarus, Mikhail Mikhadyuk underlined. It will also contribute to the economic and social development of the neighboring region. “The executions of orders for the nuclear power plant will help raise the technical and technological level of industrial enterprises of the country and improve the qualifications of the personnel. The experience gained during the construction of the nuclear power plant will allow using the industrial and human resources potential of the country while creating the nuclear energy facilities both in Belarus and abroad,” the Deputy Energy Minister said.
Belarus plans to construct a nuclear power plant of the 2,400MW capacity. The first power unit will be put into operation in 2016, the second – in 2018. The plant will be built upon the project of Saint Petersburg Atomenergoproyekt Institute. General contractor will be Atomstroyexport, a state-owned engineering company regulated by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom). Atomstroyexport constructs about 20% of the world’s nuclear plants.