The second power unit of Belarus' only nuclear power plant, the Ostrovets NPP, was temporarily shut down from the power grid after a signal of a deviation in the cooling system in the non-nuclear part of the facility was reported by the Belarusian Energy Ministry on Wednesday, quoted by Reuters, News.bg reports.
According to the official statement, the situation is “routine“ and does not pose a threat to the safe operation of the plant. The radiation background in the area and in the monitored area around it remains unchanged, authorities assure.
Information about the incident and radiation levels could not be independently confirmed by Reuters.
The nuclear power plant Ostrovets is located in the western Grodno region, just 15 kilometers from the border with Lithuania. From the very beginning, the project, built by the Russian state company Rosatom with funding from Moscow, has drawn criticism from neighboring countries and international organizations over safety concerns.
The plant's first unit was put into operation in 2020, and the second joined Belarus' energy system in 2023. Both units have experienced interruptions in operation due to technical maintenance.
The plant provides about 40% of the country's electricity needs. However, the Baltic states, which oppose its construction, have imposed a ban on electricity imports from Ostrovets, citing security risks.