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Area where nuclear power plant is expected to be built

The Astravets district of the Hrodna region, which the government has selected for the construction of Belarus’ first-ever nuclear power plant, is noteworthy for its historic Catholic churches.

For instance, the district capital of Astravets, a city of 9,000 residents some 12 miles from the expected construction site, has the Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, which was built in 1911, and Saint Cosmus and Saint Damian Church, built between 1885 and 1887.

In the village of Varona, 5.6 miles from the construction site, there is Saint George Chapel, built in the early 18th century.

In the village of Hervyaty, five miles from the construction site, there is Trinity Church, built between 1899 and 1903.

In the village of Varnyany, 4.3 miles from the construction site, there is Saint George Church, built between 1767 and 1769.

Saint Archangel Michael Church, built between 1662 and 1684, stands on the bank of the River Viliya in the village of Mikhalishki, the closest populated place to the expected construction site at four miles from it.

At the very site where the plant is to be built, there are the ruins of a noble family’s country estate.

The security area around a nuclear power plant, from where all residents are to be evacuated in the event of an emergency, normally has a diameter of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).

The government considered two more areas for the construction of the plant: near the village of Kukshynava between Horki and Shklow, Mahilyow region, and near the village of Chyrvonaya Palyana near Bykhaw, Mahilyow region. Both the areas have no remarkable historic buildings.

The Astravets site proved to be more economically attractive than the other two, Uladzimir Petrushkevich, an engineer with the project management directorate, told reporters on December 22.

One of the main advantages of the Astravets site is the availability of an ample water supply nearby, he noted, adding that the ground in the selected area is better than in the two others.

The government plans to start the construction of the nuclear power plant at the end of 2009.The 2,000-MW plant is expected to account for 27 to 30 percent of the total domestic electricity output. One of the two 1000-MW reactors is to be put into operation in 2016 and the other in 2018.