Lithuania to stop buying energy from Belarus after BelNPP launch - minister
<p> MINSK, Aug 7 - PrimePress. Lithuania is determined to stop purchasing electricity from Belarus after the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravyets, said Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas. </p> <p> </p> <p> "The latest events in Belarus, when they fast-tracked and accelerated the launch of the BelNPP in Astravyets, show that it is contrary to nuclear safety requirements, safety standards and recommendations - and it proves both the rush and the fragmentation of the process of obtaining a license for certain stages to get a license for loading nuclear fuel. I talked about this yesterday and with the IAEA Director General,” Prime reports citing Vaičiūnas as saying. </p> <p> </p> <p> The minister stressed that it is a matter of principle for Lithuania to give up imports of electricity from Belarus’ nuclear power plants. </p> <p> </p> <p> “In this matter, we are prepared both legally and technically. The refusal to buy electricity in Belarus should be activated when the NPP launch takes place,” said Vaičiūnas. </p> <p> </p> <p> In the meantime, the Energy Ministry of Belarus said on Aug 7 that the power start-up of the Astravyets nuclear facility is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Now electricity from Belarus accounts for 5% of Lithuania’s total electricity consumption. Naturally, giving up this import will have only less than minimal impact on our market and prices,” added the minister. </p> <p> </p> <p> On Aug 7, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius confirmed that Lithuania had handed Belarus a note in connection with the launch of the BelNPP reactor. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lithuania took a firm stance against the Belarusian NPP at the very inception of the project. Its parliament officially declared the power plant a threat to Lithuania’s national security. Lithuania now spares no efforts to prevent the import of energy that will be generated by the NPP into the EU. Belarus, in turn, guarantees that the nuclear power plant will meet the highest safety standards. The Astravyets facility is located within a 50-km range from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. End </p>
2020-08-08
Primepress
Lithuania to stop buying energy from Belarus after BelNPP launch - minister
MINSK, Aug 7 - PrimePress. Lithuania is determined to stop purchasing electricity from Belarus after the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravyets, said Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.
"The latest events in Belarus, when they fast-tracked and accelerated the launch of the BelNPP in Astravyets, show that it is contrary to nuclear safety requirements, safety standards and recommendations - and it proves both the rush and the fragmentation of the process of obtaining a license for certain stages to get a license for loading nuclear fuel. I talked about this yesterday and with the IAEA Director General,” Prime reports citing Vaičiūnas as saying.
The minister stressed that it is a matter of principle for Lithuania to give up imports of electricity from Belarus’ nuclear power plants.
“In this matter, we are prepared both legally and technically. The refusal to buy electricity in Belarus should be activated when the NPP launch takes place,” said Vaičiūnas.
In the meantime, the Energy Ministry of Belarus said on Aug 7 that the power start-up of the Astravyets nuclear facility is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.
“Now electricity from Belarus accounts for 5% of Lithuania’s total electricity consumption. Naturally, giving up this import will have only less than minimal impact on our market and prices,” added the minister.
On Aug 7, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius confirmed that Lithuania had handed Belarus a note in connection with the launch of the BelNPP reactor.
Lithuania took a firm stance against the Belarusian NPP at the very inception of the project. Its parliament officially declared the power plant a threat to Lithuania’s national security. Lithuania now spares no efforts to prevent the import of energy that will be generated by the NPP into the EU. Belarus, in turn, guarantees that the nuclear power plant will meet the highest safety standards. The Astravyets facility is located within a 50-km range from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. End