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Talks on nuclear project agreements going constructively, says executive of Russia's Rosatom

Talks on a package of agreements on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus have been going constructively, Nikolai Spassky, deputy director of Russia's Nuclear Energy State Corporation (Rosatom), told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

"Work is underway and this is absolutely normal," Mr. Spassky said. "There're extremely serious issues [to be discussed], as this is not just a long-term project but real construction in the very middle of our region."

"That’s why specific issues also need to be worked through very seriously," Mr. Spassky said. "We work on them in a friendly, proper and constructive manner. All existing issues will be resolved promptly."

An interstate agreement on the construction of the nuclear plant has already been drafted, said Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadzyuk. Russia has suggested including an agreement on cooperation in the power generation industry in the general package, Mr. Mikhadzyuk said.

The nuclear power plant, which will have a generating capacity of around 2,400 megawatts, is expected to be built in the Hrodna region near the Lithuanian border, BelaPAN said.

It is projected to account for 27 to 30 percent of the total domestic electricity output. One of the plant’s two reactors was expected to be put into operation in 2016 and the other in 2018.

Rosatom's Atomstroiexport was selected by the Belarusian government as the prime contractor.