Reports: 12-month delay likely for Belarusian nuclear station's launch
The Belarusian NPP may be launched 10-12 months later than planned, an anonymous energy market expert told Interfax. The Russian state corporation Rosatom may have to give Belarus the power unit meant for Leningrad NPP-2 that is also being built now. It is ‘in a state of better readiness.’
The incident at the building site of the Belarusian NPP occurred on the night of July 10 but was reported in mass media much later. The reactor's casing was being transported at the height of four metres when the crane broke down. The reactor's casing was hanging in the air gradually descending for 30 minutes until it ‘touched the ground’. The Russian contractor is ready to replace the first energy unit of the Belarusian NPP if Belarus insists on it, Rosatom deputy CEO Alexander Lokshyn announced. Belarus has decided to replace the power unit in Astravets District, Belarusian Minister of Energy Uladzimir Patupchyk said last week.
