“During the trial run, the protection system for Unit 1 is triggered, and the systems and equipment are checked. The background radiation around the power plant is normal,” the ministry said.
President Alexander Lukashenko inaugurated the facility near Astravicek in the north of the country last November, shut down shortly after, and finally restarted after nearly two weeks. According to the ministry, the power plant is operating at 40 percent of its rated capacity.
Belarus chose the Russian block 3+ for its first nuclear power plant, built by the Russian company Roszatom. The capacity of two VVER-1200 units has a total capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Russia provided 10 billion euros for the investment.
Neighboring Lithuania, whose capital is the power plant only about 50 kilometers away, has strongly opposed the construction of the nuclear power plant. The Baltic State does not consider the Belarusian power plant to be safe at all.
President Lukashenko said earlier that they are considering building a second nuclear power plant and suggested using the excess energy to mine Bitcoin.
Cover photo: Getty Images
