From 2024, the Belarus NPP will be able to supply electricity to the Russian market, the chairman of the Energy Committee of Russia’s State Duma (parliament) Pavel Zavalny has told journalists.

A delegation from the State Duma was visiting Minsk to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, including the construction and operation of the Belarus NPP.

"We have broad prospects for cooperation in connection with the upcoming commissioning of the second power unit of the BelNPP. A full-fledged wholesale electricity market has been created in Russia. As part of the integration of our markets, from the beginning of next year it will be possible to supply electricity from the BelNPP to the Russian market," Zavalny said .

At a meeting with Belarus Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich, Zavalny noted that cooperation between Belarus and Russia is being developed, including in non-energy areas of nuclear technology, such as nuclear medicine, new materials, and information technology. "Russia is ready to offer the latest developments in the interests of developing the integration processes of our countries," he stressed.

Energy Minister Karankevich confirmed that increased interaction with Russia is planned. As well as technical support for the Belarus NPP, waste management and training, co-operation will include storage systems for energy and electric transport, digital technologies, nuclear medicine, additive technologies, and research in the field of agriculture and radiobiology.

He noted that some 40 Belarusian and Russian organisations took part in the NPP construction. At the peak of the construction of the station, more than 9,000 workers were on the site. Over the years Belarus has established a nuclear and radiation safety system including an appropriate regulatory framework and a protection and response system and has increased personnel training. "In all these areas, we are developing cooperation with our Russian colleagues, primarily the state corporation Rosatom," Karankevich added. “Nuclear energy opens up great opportunities not only for the fuel and energy complex, but also for other sectors of the economy.”

Image: Belarus nuclear power plant (courtesy of Rosatom)