Belarus to start NPP construction in April

Valery Limarenko, the acting president of Atomstroyexport company, thinks the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will begin in April 2012.

“We plan to start construction works in April. In fact, we consider we have started performing our main task – the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus,” Limarenko said Wednesday at a press conference in Minsk, Interfax news agency reports.

Limarenko also said the Russian party confirmedthe general contract for the Belarusian NPP construction would be signed in the first half of the year.

“The work on general contract is under way. We count to sign it in the first half of the year,” Limarenko said.

He marked the documents for the delivery of the main technological equipment were prepared for signing and expected to be signed within the month. Besides, the parties are working on the contract for the preparatory period, including the excavation contract.

Mikhail Mikhadzyuk, the deputy minister of energy of Belarus, emphasized Belarus's interest in holding technical consultations and public hearing to discuss the Lithuanian environmental impact assessment report for the Visaginas NPP.

“Lithuania has arrangements with a company (a potential investor in the NPP construction – Interfax). They will not use a pressurized water reactor. They (Lithuania – Inetrfax) will refine their IEA report taking into account the reactor type and we will discuss it here,” Mikhadzyuk said.