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Belarusian environmental protection ministry plans to issue its opinion about nuclear power plant project in April

The Belaruisan environmental protection ministry plans to issue in April its opinion about the possible environmental impact of the country’s future nuclear power plant, First Deputy Minister Vital Kulik said at a news conference held in Minsk earlier this week. as quoted by BelaPAN. 

The ministry asked neighboring countries to complete their discussions on the Belarusian nuclear project this month, the deputy minister said.

The ministry will take into account in its report comments to be submitted by experts representing neighboring countries, he said, noting that the discussions were under way with Lithuania and Ukraine.

The deputy minister acknowledged that the project would cause “certain” environmental effects. The local environment will change, but efforts will be made to minimize the effects, he noted.

A special government commission decided in December 2008 that the plant should be built in the area of the village of Mikhalishki some 12 miles from Astravets, a city of 9,000 residents in the Hrodna region, and 10 miles from the Lithuanian border. The commission chose that site over locations near the village of Kukshynava between Horki and Shklow, Mahilyow region, and near the village of Chyrvonaya Palyana near Bykhaw, Mahilyow region.

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.