BelNPP launch postponed until 2021, fuel load postponed until August 2020

BelNPP / Delfi
BelNPP / Delfi

The launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has been postponed until 2021, while fuel loading has been postponed until August 2020, the Ambassador of Belarus to Russia told BELTA.

"We believe that in August we will start loading the first reactor with fuel," said Uladzimir Syamashka. "The physical and the energy launch will follow. The task is to fully put the first power unit into commercial operation in 2021 (in the first quarter at least)".

Syamashka did not specify what caused the postponement of BelNPP launch. Previously, it was expected that the first unit would be launched in January 2020. Then the launch was moved to July, and nuclear fuel was delivered to the nuclear power plant in May. Back in early June, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that the Belarusian nuclear power plant would be launched "within a few days".

"And don't complain that it [electricity] will have nowhere to go. We'll give it to the people! There will be pancakes on an electric stove, as well as electric cars," said Lukashenka.