goingcritical:astravets-1Belarus · Power reactor

Astravets 1 (Belarusian 1)

Status: Operating critical since October 11, 2020 Reactor status full glossary → Announced Publicly announced — a site and design are proposed, but construction has not begun. Site preparation Early site and civil works are under way; the first safety-related ("nuclear") concrete has not yet been poured. Under construction Formal construction has begun, marked by the first nuclear concrete. Fuel loaded Nuclear fuel has been loaded into the core. The reactor is fuelled but has not yet gone critical. Critical Has reached first criticality — a self-sustaining chain reaction, usually at low power — but is not yet connected to the grid. Grid connected Synchronised to the electrical grid and exporting power for the first time, but still in commissioning and power-ascension testing — not yet in commercial service. Operating In commercial operation — the operator has formally declared the unit in regular commercial service. Shut down Permanently shut down and no longer generating; may be defuelled, undergoing decommissioning, or preserved in place. Canceled Abandoned before completion.

Site: Astravyets, Grodno Region

RussiaPolandDenmarkMoscowDuisburgKatowiceMannheimKharkivNizhny NovgorodMinsk
Astravyets, Grodno Region54.7665° N, 26.0989° E
Summary:

First unit of Belarus's first nuclear plant and the first VVER-1200 to operate outside Russia.

Details

DesignVVER-1200/491
Electrical output1,194 MWe

Milestone history

  1. Announced
  2. Construction start November 8, 2013
  3. Fuel load
  4. First criticality October 11, 2020
  5. Grid connection November 7, 2020
  6. Commercial operation June 10, 2021