29 March 2024, Friday, 16:01
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Lithuanian Energy Minister: We Have Reasonable Doubts about Belarus' NPP

3
Lithuanian Energy Minister: We Have Reasonable Doubts about Belarus' NPP
Žygimantas Vaičiūnas
PHOTO BY DELFI.LT

New Lithuanian Energy Minister believes that security at the Belarusian NPP which is being constructed 50 kilometres away from Vilnius is the most urgent task.

"In the matter of Astravets, our main task is to ensure compliance with the highest standards of nuclear energy and environmental protection, if it is not possible to close the project. We still have reasonable doubts and intend to use all possible means of international pressure - the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission (EC)," Žygimantas Vaičiūnas informed delfi.lt.

According to him, Lithuania has concerns about independence of the agencies supervising NPP in Belarus.

"One of the greatest our concern is that their regulator must be completely independent and be competent enough to ensure security. Our non-cooperation with Belarus has had a long story. We have constantly asked for transparency, dialogue, but, unfortunately, we have managed to meet only recently," the Minister said.

Former Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis this week has told BNS that Lithuania successfully insisted on stress tests at Belarusian NPP. However, it takes time to reach guarantees of total security at the NPP.

"This takes time, we already have some support. I am very pleased with that Brussels responded and sent their representatives to Belarus. This is a great progress - Belarus has pledged itself to provide information, take stress tests, although the IAEA requirements are not binding for it. And I believe that express tests are a great progress. If the construction is not closed, at least there will be a ground to supervise it to insure its quality," Masiulis said in an interview to BNS.

Lithuania criticizes Belarus for non-compliance with security standards and international environmental requirements when construction of the NPP in Belarus. Minsk disagrees with these claims and considers them unfounded.

The Belarusian NPP is being built under Russian "VVER-1200" project in the Astravets district, Hrodna region. It will consist of two power units with a capacity of 1200 MW each. The putting into service of the first power unit was planned for 2018, the second - 2020 year. "Atomstroyexport" ("Rosatom") is the general contractor.

However, in connection with the incident at the construction site this July, the Belarusian side has sent notification to Russia about the decision to replace the vessel of the first reactor.

As a result, the installation works at the first block of the Belarusian NPP has been postponed to the end of 2016.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Siamashka says that due to the replacement of the vessel, the first power unit will be put inro service in 2019.

Write your comment 3

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts