On 7 August, fuel loading began at VVER-1200-type unit 1 of the Belarusian nuclear power plant Ostrovets, the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced. A total of 163 fuel assemblies will be loaded into the reactor before the end of August. The reactor will then be brought to the minimum controlled power level (1% of the total power capacity) and the relevant tests will be performed. If the tests verify the unit’s reliability and safety, the power start-up stage will begin and the reactor will be connected to the grid for the first time.
