Key events
On November 6 at 5:40 a.m., a fire occurred at the “Hydrotreatment Unit No. 2” of JSC “Naftan.” Equipment depressurization led to the ignition of diesel fuel. The fire has been extinguished, and there are no casualties.
The second phase of the reconstruction of the “Polotsk-330” substation has begun, including the renovation of a 110 kV transmission line stretching 117 km. The work is planned to be completed by January 2026. Currently, two new 330/110/10 kV autotransformers have been installed, 110/330 kV outdoor switchgear equipment has been assembled, and the control building and 10 kV indoor switchgear have been constructed, among other works.
At the Vitsiebsk CHP plant, work is underway to technically re-equip the compressor facilities. Specialists have completed the dismantling of outdated equipment. The commissioning of the upgraded compressor facilities is scheduled for the end of December 2025.
In Vaukavysk, the reconstruction of one of the district’s key substations — “Myasokombinat” — has been completed. The substation was upgraded from 35 kV to a higher voltage of 110 kV. After the reconstruction, the substation’s capacity increased two and a half times.
Fifteen specialists from the Rosenergoatom Concern and Russian nuclear power plants conducted an inspection of the second unit of the Belarusian NPP according to IAEA OSART mission standards. The inspection was part of the preparation for the first OSART mission at the plant, scheduled for 2026.
Also, at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, the second stage of the corporate partnership audit by the Moscow Regional Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO-MC) took place from November 10 to 14, 2025. The first stage was conducted in 2022.
On November 25 at 16:37, a report was received about a fire at the Ignalina NPP in Lithuania. A plant representative stated that the fire occurred during decontamination work. No exceedances of radiation background levels were recorded in Belarus. The event is preliminarily classified as “below scale” on the IAEA International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.
On November 13, 2025, the second unit of the NPP will be taken offline for scheduled preventive maintenance. It was commissioned for commercial operation on November 1, 2023, and has produced a total of approximately 18.5 billion kWh of electricity.
From December 1 to 15, seismic survey blasting operations will be carried out near the following settlements in the Gomel region: the city of Vasilevichi, the Vedrich agrotown, and the villages of Lubnoye, Rassvet, and Novinki.
Statistics and data
Drilling of seven new wells has been completed: two new wells at the Rechitsa and Vishansk fields, and one well each at the Ostashkovichi, South Ostashkovichi, and Kamanov sites.
In October, the Rig Assembly Department (VMU) delivered four assembled drilling rigs: one rig each to the Rechytsa, Khatkinsk, and Astashkovichy fields.
Four new sites have been prepared for the construction of drilling rigs.
There are over 44,000 electric vehicles and more than 1,870 charging stations in operation in the country.
In the Vitsebsk region, nearly 30,000 private residential houses have been converted to electric heating during the current five-year period.
In 2025, over 1.8 million tons of peat were extracted.
About 800,000 tons of peat products were produced, approximately 750,000 tons were sold for the needs of industry, energy, housing and utilities, and agriculture. Non-fuel peat products are in high demand on foreign markets: they account for about 75% of total exports, with shipments to nine countries worldwide.
A new peat soil production plant has been opened at JSC “TBZ Usyazh.” The plant specializes in peat boiling and the production of peat substrates. The average capacity is 32,500 tons per year, and at increased load, it can produce up to 60,000 tons of peat soils annually.
Statements
«Following the meeting, a decision was made to develop the Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant and implement the second phase — the construction of the third unit,» Vice Premier Viktor Karankevich told journalists. «At the same time, work will be organized to study sites in Mahiliou region. These additional surveys will be conducted in areas where, in the future, if electricity demand grows (and further growth needs are to be met through nuclear energy), the development of nuclear power may be possible, specifically in Mahiliou region.»
Topic of the issue: Ideology in Energy Policy
Research on the NPP began in 2007, and the decision to construct it was made in 2008. The plan was to build two units of 1,000 MW each. In 2012, a contract for the construction of the NPP was signed. Initially, the first unit was expected to be commissioned in 2016, and the second in 2018.
According to the investment justification, electricity consumption was forecasted at 47 billion kWh, with a planned construction of 2,000 MW. The change in the plant’s capacity was first recorded at the contract signing stage, meaning the contract was signed for a plant that differed both from the Security Council decision and the parameters used in the investment justification.
We attempted to replicate the calculations conducted in 2010, using the same consumption forecasts and unit capacities. Electricity overproduction (use of electric boilers) would have been about 350–400 million kWh in 2018, decreasing to 250 million kWh by 2020. Considering the trial operation period, this allowed the NPP to be integrated into Belarus’s power system.
However, the plant was built 20% larger than planned, while consumption in 2015 amounted to 36.8 billion kWh instead of 42.5 billion kWh (13.3% lower). Anticipating potential problems in maintaining the balance, a Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Electric Power Sector until 2025 was adopted, which envisaged the construction of electric boiler plants to consume excess electricity and produce heat.
As a result, in the Concept for the Development of Power Generating Capacities and Electric Grids up to 2030, the consumption of 47.2 billion kWh was postponed to 2030. In 2025, with both units operating at full capacity, electricity overproduction was estimated at 1.7 billion kWh.
It is known that electricity consumption in 2024 amounted to 43.3 billion kWh. According to our estimates, electricity overproduction is around 1 billion kWh. Under these conditions, the decision was made to construct a third unit.
It is possible to estimate the level of electricity consumption required for the normal operation of the third NPP unit. According to our calculations, to maintain overproduction at 250–300 million kWh (like the calculations for the first NPP), total electricity consumption in Belarus would need to reach 62 billion kWh, which is 43% higher than the current level. If, however, the actual operating mode of the NPP in 2023 is taken as a reference, with overproduction of 1.7 billion kWh, consumption would need to be around 52 billion kWh (an increase of 20%).
If the third unit is also built over 10 years, electricity consumption would need to grow at a rate of 1.5%, whereas since 2000 the average growth has been around 1.06%.
If current trends continue, the commissioning of the third unit will not be required before 2042. Normal operation is expected no earlier than 2062.
Thus, in making the decision, the same mistakes as during the construction of the first unit are repeated, in the form of overly optimistic forecasts of electricity consumption growth. While in 2010 there were grounds for such a forecast (economic growth in the 2000s), it is unclear what today’s forecast is based on. Measures may be taken to stimulate electricity consumption growth; however, this is a costly endeavor and an additional burden on the budget.
Материал доступен на русском языке: Приняли решение строить третий блок АЭС, но похоже рановато. Энергетический дайджест за ноябрь 2025
