Iryna Sukhij: Talks about the second NPP show how irresponsible the authorities are

The head of the Public Association “Eco House” hopes that no sensible investor will get involved with the fixed energy ideas of the Belarusan state.

“I hope it won’t happen, - in this manner in the talk with the EuroBelarus Service reacted Iryna Sukhij to the statement made by the Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadzyuk, who talked about searching investors for the second Belarusan NPP. – First, I’m pretty sure that Belarus doesn’t need even the first nuclear power plant and the second even less so. And I doubt that the investors will be willing to get involved with such energy projects”.

What concerns traditional Russian support of Belarusan atomic undertakings, Iryna Sukhij believes that “the situation is changing. Nuclear facility in Belarus is still being constructed; its estimated capacity is decreasing, as the EU is not going to buy is electric power as it was intended earlier”.

”That is why the scenario where the second NPP appears is unprofitable even for Russia; as well as the scenario with the first NPP, though. Belarusan authorities are stubborn in their willingness to create the problem – not only for themselves, but for the next generation of Belarusans, too. Mikhadzyuk’s words one more time convince in how absolutely irresponsible are the authorities”, - emphasized Iryna Sukhij.

Belarusan project of the nuclear facility also got negative response from the Lithuanian authorities. Thus, Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevičius stated that Lithuania is "surprised and saddened" by Belarus` actions in connection with the construction of a nuclear power plant and accused the Belarusan government of "avoiding observing the Espoo Convention`s requirements," - BelaPAN reports his words.

He also gave commented on the public hearings, which took place on August 17: "One may suggest that there may be no such answers, that`s why they use such concert-style means of dialogue. We don`t need a show, we need the requirements of the Espoo Convention to be observed consistently”. According to the minister, the Belarusan government has failed to explain why a site located just 50 kilometers away from Vilnius was chosen for the plant. Neither has Minsk explained why it has not conducted seismic tests in an area that was hit by strong earthquakes in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Lithuania still waits for Belarus to say what technique will be used to cool the plant`s reactor, Mr. Linkevičius said.  "Experts should give very specific answers. After they are received one may hold a public hearing, not vice versa," he noted. He attacked the Belarusan government for starting the construction of the plant before completing a study into its expected environmental impact.