BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
05/02/2009
Belarusian embassy urges Lithuania to cooperate in nuclear power plant project
Minsk, Feb 05, 2009 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- "Construction of new nuclear power plants in Belarus and Lithuania may become a basis for creation of a powerful centre of nuclear energy in the region," the statement by the Belarusian embassy in Lithuania says.
"Our countries should not compete in this issue, but on the contrary, to pursue comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation," the statement says.
The Belarusian diplomatic mission notes that Belarus's decision to build a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant was taken with the aim to strengthen the country's energy security. The first power unit is to be put in operation in 2016, the second one in 2018.
Belarus informed the secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the decision on 13 February and asked the IAEA to render expert, consultant and technical assistance. In July 2008, Belarus informed Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Russia about the intention to start building a nuclear power plant. "Work on the whole set of issues, concerning lead-up to nuclear power plant's construction, is carried out in cooperation with IAEA experts," the Belarusian embassy in Vilnius says.
Besides, "there are no international legal bans to place a nuclear power plant near interstate borders, and there is widely-applied practice of such a placement, which can be exemplified by the Ignalina nuclear power plant".
Due to lack of information, the Lithuanian authorities have earlier expressed their worries over compliance of works on nuclear power construction with international standards.
Source:
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/news/display_news_story.cfm?Section=WireNews&Category=HOME&NewsID=173599
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