Belarusians against «nuclear» plans of Lukashenka

The final political decision on construction a nuclear power plant in Belarus was taken at the sitting of the Security Council of Belarus. But the economic effect of the own nuclear plant, the authorities are speaking about, can turn into enormous losses at a moment.

The project of a resolution will be completed, reconciled, and introduced for Lukashenka to sign. Yesterday he said the construction of the nuclear plant should be started up yet this year, because “the Belarusian society has already understood there is no alternative for nuclear energy in Belarus.”

Uladzimer Barysheuski, director of the Scientific Research Institute of Nuclear Problems at the Belarusian State University, says in the interview to Radio Svaboda that he stands for nuclear power plant construction:

“Of course, nuclear plant must be constructed. I think the passion around Chernobyl is a crime against our people. The mankind should construct nuclear plants and develop thermonuclear energy industry,” the official nuclear physicist thinks.

Meanwhile, members of independent anti-nuclear public initiative think the economic affect can turn into enormous losses at a moment. “The economic affect, the authorities are speaking about, can turn into enormous losses at a moment: human, economic, political and ecological ones. Chernobyl experience has learnt many people. Creation of our anti-nuclear group is aimed at accelerating the activity against nuclear plant construction, we will beat the alarm,” says Eduard Brokarau, press secretary of the newly created civil initiative.

It should be reminded that a decree “On some Measures on Nuclear Power Plant Construction” has been signed, the Department of Nuclear and Radioactive Security and the Direction of Nuclear Plant have been created. Thus the legal system has been optimised.

But in Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s view, preparation for nuclear plant construction is slow, there’s no distinct vision of algorithms... The most important aspects – construction site, project and main constructor, haven’t been determined yet.”

The Ministry of Energy of Belarus with the consultative help of foreign specialists has worked out an operation schedule for the nuclear power plant construction. Two nuclear units are to be constructed simultaneously: the first one is to be put into operation in 2018, the second one – in a year or two after. The Belarusian nuclear plant is to work at full power in 2020.

Mikalai Korbut, minister of finance, said the approximate cost of the project could amount to USD 4 billion. The final site for construction of the nuclear plant is to be decided in spring 2008. Some possible sites in the Magilou Area are being considered now. One of them is situated near Gorki. Local dwellers formed an anti-nuclear group last week and began to gather votes against the nuclear plant construction.