The Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation will sign an agreement on the third unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant by the end of the year

20.02.2026. Belarus and Russia will sign a framework agreement on the construction of the third power unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant by the end of the year, Belarus's Energy Minister Denis Moroz told reporters, according to a Sputnik correspondent. "I am absolutely convinced that we will soon reach certain agreements on the framework agreement, which will be signed at a high level," he noted. The minister also noted that last year, the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant generated approximately 17 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, and the share of nuclear energy in the country's electricity consumption reached 40%.

"This is a significant figure. It is a reliable and stable source of energy for our country, for our economy. Moreover, a nuclear power plant provides synergies not only for energy producers but also for related industries," Moroz said.

This is precisely why, the head of the department explained, it was decided last year to further develop nuclear power generation. An interdepartmental working group was created with the Russian state corporation Rosatom to develop the relevant framework agreement.

The technical parameters of the third unit will be the same as the two operating units at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, meaning the new unit's capacity will be 1,200 megawatts.

"We're still just discussing the second power plant (NPP - Sputnik)," Moroz added.

He confirmed that the most promising site for the second plant is the Mogilev Region, but this issue is still being worked on.

"We are considering various configuration options for this nuclear power plant. Together with the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, our design institutes, and the state corporation Rosatom, we are currently studying several aspects," Moroz said.

In addition to the construction site, the technical parameters of the future plant are also being discussed, taking into account the prospect of increased electricity consumption after 2040. Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant

The construction of a nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW near the town of Ostrovets has become the largest economic project in Russia and Belarus.

Construction of the nuclear power plant began in 2013 in partnership with the state corporation Rosatom. The first power unit was commissioned in June 2021, and in November 2023, the government approved the acceptance certificate for the second power unit.

The second unit of the plant was commissioned on November 1, 2023, and has since generated a total of approximately 18.5 billion kWh of electricity.

In November 2025, at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a decision was made to build a third unit at the plant in addition to the two existing units.

Source: www.sputnik.by/20260220/belarus-i-rf-do-kontsa-goda-podpishut-soglashenie-o-tretem-bloke-belaes-1104509521.html

Photo: Rosatom State Corporation Press Service