Unit 2 of the Belarusian nuclear power station has achieved first criticality taking a step closer to commercial operation, the Belarusian energy ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the 1,110-MW VVER-1200 reactor unit near Ostrovets in western Belarus is now operating in test mode at 1% of its design nominal output level.
First criticality at a nuclear power reactor unit means the plant achieved a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction for the first time.
The ministry said the next milestone in the commissioning process will be connection to the national power grid once the reactor unit reaches 40% of its nominal power level.
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