goingcritical:astravets-2Belarus · Power reactor

Astravets 2 (Belarusian 2)

Status: Operating critical since April 26, 2022 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:

Second VVER-1200 unit at the Belarusian NPP, bringing the plant to full two-unit capacity.

Details

DesignVVER-1200/491
Electrical output1,194 MWe

Milestone history

  1. Announced
  2. Construction start April 27, 2014
  3. Fuel load
  4. First criticality April 26, 2022
  5. Grid connection May 13, 2023
  6. Commercial operation November 1, 2023