Belarus wants to create additive technologies center in partnership with Rosatom - Belarus Energy Ministry

MINSK. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Belarus intends to develop cooperation with Russian state corporation Rosatom once the second power unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant enters into commercial operation, including potentially creating a center for additive technologies, Belarus's Deputy Minister of Energy, Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.

"With the commissioning of the second power unit of the BelNPP, cooperation with the Rosatom state corporation will continue to develop both on the issues of operation, technical support and scientific support of the project, and on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste," Mikhadyuk said during public hearings before issuing a license to put the second power unit of the Belarusian NPP into industrial operation.

"It is planned to create a center for additive technologies. The corresponding task has been set by the government. It is planned that the project will be implemented in partnership with Rosatom. This is one of the promising areas that the parties plan to develop together," Mikhadyuk said, as cited by the press service of the Energy Ministry.

Among other areas of bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Rosatom, the deputy minister identified nuclear medicine, production of energy storage devices for energy and electric transport, telecommunication systems, and the introduction of modern digital technologies.

The BelNPP is located near the city of Ostrovets, Grodno region. It was built according to the Russian VVER-1200 design. The station consists of two power units with a capacity of 1.2 GW. The general contractor of the construction is the ASE Rosatom group. A $10 billion Russian government loan financed the project. The first power unit of the BelNPP was connected to the network in November 2020, and the second in May 2023. The second power unit is planned to begin commercial operation in the fall.