Belarus - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Current operations
Belarus’s first nuclear unit entered into service in 2020, and the second unit in 2023. The two units at Ostrovets are expected to operate for a minimum of 60 years, to at least 2080.
Table By.1 Nuclear capacity status (as of 1 October 2026)
| Operable reactors | Operable reactors net capacity (MWe) | Operable reactors gross capacity (MWe) | Reactors under construction | Reactors under construction gross capacity (MWe) | Cumulative carbon dioxide emissions avoided 1970-2025 (cf. coal) (MtCO2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2220 | 2388 | 0 | - | 49 |
Nuclear policy and outlook
In December 2023, the country’s energy minister said that Belarus was considering building a second nuclear power plant, or a third unit at Ostrovets. In November 2025, President Lukashenko announced that a third unit would be built at the Ostrovets site. This is now classified as a proposed reactor by World Nuclear Association, and is representative of the government target. Survey work at potential sites in the Mogilev oblast, in the east of the country, would also be carried out; the go-ahead for any new capacity in that region would depend on future energy demand.
Table By.2 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)
| 60 year operation (MWe) | 80 year operation (MWe) | Currently under construction capacity (MWe) | Planned capacity (MWe) | Proposed capacity (MWe) | Potential capacity (MWe) | Government capacity target (MWe) | Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe) | Total capacity (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2388 | - | - | 1194 | 1194 | - | 2388 | - | 4776 |
| *Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target. | ||||||||
Readiness Assessment
Having introduced nuclear generation to the country relatively recently, Belarus is well placed to continue expansion of its nuclear fleet, drawing on recent experience for construction of a third unit, and preparatory work for further expansion planned. The next steps will be to develop clear project plans for the third unit.
| Country Category | Newcomer |
|---|---|
| Policy Framework Readiness | Moderate Belarus has made the decision to move forward with a third unit at Ostrovets, while commencing preliminary site studies for a potential second nuclear site, the go-ahead for which would be dependent on future energy demand. |
| Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness | High Belarus has an established institutional framework for operating and expanding nuclear capacity, including a regulator, nuclear law, licensing experience and waste management strategy. |
| Programme & Project Development Readiness | Moderate Belarus has made the political decision to construct a third unit at Ostrovets, and is preparing agreements with Rosatom, but financing terms, EPC contracts, licensing, environmental approvals and first concrete remain outstanding. Plans for a second site are at an early stage.. |
| Target Achievability | Moderate The site, technology family, owner/operator experience and likely vendor are already established for a third unit at Ostrovets. |
