BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2008

Belarus to build nuke power plant

Commodity Online

MINSK: The former soviet republic of Belarus has announced that the country will build a nuclear power station in order to meet its growing power demand.

As a first step the country has set up a state-controlled directorate to oversee the project to build its first nuclear power plant.

Speaking to newsmen here Belarus deputy energy minister said " the directorate had been set up to organize work before and during the project, develop documents on operating rules, oversee the construction of the nuclear plant, train staff, take on labor, and prepare documents for a tender".

"The site for the plant's construction will be selected this month in accordance with international and local laws, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency's recommendations", he said.

The planned plant, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, would considerably contribute to Belarus's energy security, providing electricity equal to that generated from five billion cubic meters of natural gas, at half the cost.

Belarus was busy preparing a construction tender for the plant and is said to be considering Russia, France and the U.S. as possible contractors.

Source:

http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=4752