Lithuania Purchases Iodine Due To Launch Of Belarusian NPP

Four million pills will be distributed among the residents of the territories close to the Astravets NPP.

In the last month of the year, a nuclear reaction will be launched at the Belarusian NPP near Astravets. This will be the start of the first power unit in the power system, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Ihar Lyashenka confirmed the previous intentions, Belsat reports.

While Belarus is preparing charging stations, neighboring Lithuania is purchasing iodine, which will be distributed in the territories close to the NPP.

The Lithuanian town of Mitskunai with a picturesque lake is located 18 km from the Belarusian border. 22 km to the right is the Belarusian nuclear power plant, soon to be launched. In this regard, the Lithuanian government will provide local residents with potassium iodide.

“If this drug is used in a timely manner, the risk of getting blood or thyroid gland cancer is reduced,” says Lithuanian Vice Minister of Health Algirdas Seshelgis.

Four million pills will be distributed among the residents of the Lithuanian territory thirty kilometers away from the station, through the organizations of self-administration, and polyclinics.

The Lithuanians told the following to the journalists:

“We all remember Chernobyl very well. No wonder they will now distribute these iodine tablets. That is Fukushima, Chernobyl and so on.”

“I'll take them just in case. Of course I don’t want to take it, but I have to. If they give these pills to everyone, then something can happen.”

Vilnius refused to acquire Belarusian atomic energy and would not even allow its transit. There will just be a wide information campaign what to do in case of radiation contamination.

In Belarus, enterprises do not distribute pills, convincing people of the “absolute security of the project”. The first unit will start work in December. The second one is to be launched next year. In Lithuania, in addition to insurance, they install devices for measuring the level of radiation.