Lithuanian Foreign Ministry issues note of protest over expected start-up of Unit 2 of Belarus’ Astravyets nuke plant

<p> MINSK, Nov 23 - PrimePress. On 23 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania summoned a representative of the Embassy of Belarus to Lithuania and handed him a note of protest over the plans to launch the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) at the end of 2021. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that the launch of the second Unit of the Belarusian NPP will double the nuclear and environmental safety threats to Lithuania and other countries in the region. Thus, Belarus is required to refrain from this decision that is irresponsible and increases the threats. Lithuania also calls on Belarus to suspend the operation of the first Unit of the NPP until all modern nuclear safety requirements are met.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> In addition, the note says that, as long as the Belarusian NPP operates at the site of Ostrovets, Lithuania will take all possible diplomatic, political, legal and technical measures to protect the well-being of its residents and the interests of its national security. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, Lithuania terminated electricity trade with Belarus on November 3, 2020, after the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Lithuania has been opposing the Belarusian nuclear power project almost since Minsk made the decision to build the nuke plant. The Lithuanian parliament decided that the power plant poses a threat to national security. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lithuania will allocate €91.58 million for implementing measures in 2022-2026 to prepare for a possible accident at the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast). The accident response plan was prepared by the government office together with the Ministry of the Interior and the Lithuanian Fire and Rescue Department. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Oblast also referred to as Astravyets) will have two units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 megawatts. The AES-2006 Russian standard design of (generation 3+) was chosen for its construction. Rosatom’s division Atomstroyexport acts as the general contractor for the NPP construction. The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant RUE is the project customer and the future operator of the NPP. The ceremony of the official launch of the NPP took place in early November 2020. The first power unit of the NPP was put into commercial operation on 10 June 2021, the second power unit – due in H1 2022. End </p>

2021-11-24

Primepress