Belarus-Lithuania public hearings on the Belarusian NPP in Ostrovets
The Ostrovets site was chosen to build the Belarusian NPP for safety reasons, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk told reporters on 17 August during Belarus-Lithuania public hearings on the report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Belarusian NPP in Ostrovets, BelTA has learnt.
Initially two more sites located in Mogilev Oblast were considered, but sinkholes were detected there. “Today the international community has no clear-cut methods to prevent possible issues associated with construction of nuclear power plants at such sites; neither has it engineering solutions to avoid problems afterwards. The expected soil-bearing load of the NPP will be felt at the depth of 75 meters; at those sites sinkholes were found at the depth of 35 meters and they were watered,” the Deputy Energy Minister said. He informed that two institutions, namely the Vedeneyev All-Russia Scientific Research Hydraulic-Engineering Institute and Kievatomproyekt from Ukraine, strongly advised against those construction sites and recommended the Ostrovets site because it was the safest one from the point of view of the stability of the earth crust there.
The Deputy Energy Minister was surprised to find out that representatives of Lithuanian mass media and the public with who he talked on the sidelines of the hearings were not aware of this information. “It was long ago that we submitted this information to Lithuanian officials asking them to forward this information to the public and government agencies. It seems like they ignored our request. Not everything we officially sent to Lithuania was made public,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.
He referred to the Rovno NPP in Ukraine as an example of the wrong choice of the construction site that disregarded sinkholes. Forty years after the construction of the NPP, construction workers still pump reinforced concrete in the place where the major installations were built to avoid negative consequences.
Lithuanian authorities fail to attend public hearings on Belarus' NPP project in Ostrovets
Belarus invited representatives of the Lithuanian ministries and government agencies to participate in the public hearings on the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, but none of the representatives arrived for this event, First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Vitaly Kulyk said during a meeting with representatives of the Lithuanian public on 17 August, BelTA learned.
According to the First Deputy Minister, the Belarusian side was ready to give answers to the questions of the representatives of Lithuania who arrived in Ostrovets for the public debate. He noted that the current meeting was not mandatory from the point of view of the Espoo Convention. "However, Belarus is doing it," said Vitaly Kulik. He said that in violation of the recommendations of the Espoo Convention, the Lithuanian side did not post Belarus’ EAI report on their Internet resources. Belarus had to translate the document into Lithuanian and post it on the websites of the Belarusian government bodies.
Vitaly Kulik recalled that the first hearing in Vilnius in 2010 was attended by about 80 people on behalf of Lithuania.
Belarus’ NPP is primarily designed for domestic economy, Mikhadyuk says
Belarus is constructing the nuclear power plant to meet the domestic energy needs, although some part of energy might be exported, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk told reporters on 17 August during Belarus-Lithuania public hearings on the report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Belarusian NPP in Ostrovets, BelTA has learnt.
The construction of the nuclear power plant is primarily meant to enhance the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy, he underlined. Today most of electric and heat energy is generated using expensive imported energy resources, which adds to the prime cost of energy and manufactured products. “Our energy industry heavily relies on gas. Italy is the only European country that has the same energy generation pattern (100KW costs 20 cents there). The construction of the Belarusian NPP will make things easier for the domestic economy and households,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.
The NPP construction will also help diversify energy sources. “Today Belarus imports 11-12 billion cubic meters of gas to meet energy needs, while after the commissioning of the NPP the figure will drop by 5 billion cubic meters, which will be a great achievement,” the Deputy Energy Minister said. The country is upgrading energy installations with a view to raising their efficiency, is working hard to make energy consumption more efficient, and is increasing the use of alternative energy sources. However, all these efforts will generate limited benefits, according to the Energy Ministry and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. This will not be able to fully meet the country’s energy needs.
Commenting on the prospects of electric energy export, Mikhail Mikhadyuk said that the export will be possible if the overall energy industry of Belarus proves competitive and the price for Belarus’ electric energy is acceptable for country’s neighbors.
Mikhail Mikhadyuk believes that the reasons why Lithuania is not happy about the Belarus’ NPP project have to do with economy. “All this fuss around our project is nothing else but Lithuania’s efforts to promote its economic interests. Lithuania and other Baltic states had declared earlier that they were going to construct their own nuclear power plants. However, when three NPPs are built in such a small region, it is hard to find an investor, because energy sales prospects are uncertain. So they are irritated that Belarus is moving forward with the NPP construction project, although initially they were better positioned to make a go of it,” the Deputy Energy Minister said.
Expert: Lithuania’s stance on Belarus NPP is rather politically than environmentally motivated
Lithuania’s stand on the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has nothing to do with environment and safety and is rather politically charged, Chairman of the Belarusian public association “Environmental Initiative” Yuri Solovyov told media in Ostrovets on 17 August, BelTA has learnt.
The NPP information center in Ostrovets hosted the debates on the report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant with the participation of Lithuanian representatives. According to Yuri Solovyov, Belarus is running an intensive awareness campaign on various aspects related to the Belarusian NPP project.
“Taking into account the fact that the Belarusian nuclear project has taken its start, a successful start, contrary to the Lithuanian project, we can see that politics, not environment and safety, rule here. It should be noted that, unlike the Visaginas station in Lithuania, which fate is unclear, the nuclear project in Belarus will be implemented. As a result, the competition on the electricity market will strengthen due to the emergence of a new powerful player, and not everyone like it,” the expert stressed.
He also turned attention of those present at the meeting that the safety system at the Belarusian nuclear power plant which combines both active and passive measures is unmatched today. “If all the safety measures are applied, the Belarusian nuclear station will be the safest plant. Nuclear facilities built by Russian specialists and operating both in the Russian Federation and worldwide, including in the EU, are highly praised by foreign specialists and experts,” Yuri Solovyov added.
Belarus’ public awareness campaign on NPP construction meets international standards
The public hearings on the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant held in Ostrovets on 17 August showed that the public awareness campaign in Belarus pertaining to the construction of the country’s first nuclear station meets the international standards, Chairman of the Belarusian public association “Environmental Initiative” Yuri Solovyov told media in Ostrovets on 17 August, BelTA has learnt.
Those were the second hearings organized for the Lithuanian public. “They are organized to provide the public and representatives of various organizations of Lithuania with comprehensive and competent answers to the questions related to the construction of the nuclear power station,” Yuri Solovyov said.
“It would be great if the neighboring countries made use of the level of the organization of such events including free visas and transportation issues. Because we face an absolutely different situation. For instance, when Belarusian environmentalists want to express their position regarding the construction of the Visaginas station, they are not only denied free visas, but also stopped at the border and sent home,” the expert said.
According to Yuri Solovyov, given the will for an informational dialogue, there is always an opportunity to translate the documents into the national language and distribute them in the media.
“We would like to establish constructive cooperation with the Lithuanian side starting from today’s meeting,” Yuri Solovyov stressed.
On 17 August Ostrovets hosted the debates on the report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant with representatives of the Lithuanian public. The participants of the meeting were presented the information on the assessment of the impact of the nuclear power plant on water resources, flora and fauna as well as nuclear safety of the people living in the region.
Nuclear station construction fateful for Ostrovets District
The construction of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets District is already having a positive effect on the development of the district. The effect will continue into the future. The statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during Belarusian-Lithuanian public debates held in the Belarusian town of Ostrovets on 17 August to discuss the report on the environmental impact of the future Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA has learned.
“Ostrovets District used to be a drain on the budget of the oblast and the republic. Now it has advanced to a totally different economic level, although only the preparatory stage of the nuclear power plant construction is about to end. Future construction of the nuclear station is capable of making an economic leader out of Ostrovets District,” the Deputy Energy Minister is convinced.
The construction of the nuclear power plant will increase Ostrovets’ population up to 40,000 people. New jobs will be created at the power plant and at all the enterprises of the infrastructure, new service and production sector enterprises are opening up. Intensive home construction at the expense of the state budget is in progress in the town. Land plots for enterprises are auctioned off to eager investors. “At present land prices here are higher than those in oblast capitals and are getting close to land prices in Minsk because land plots for enterprises are sold and are rented for long terms via auctions here,” said the official. Foreign investors can also take part in the process, including Lithuanian investors. Speaking about the economic effect for the region, Mikhail Mikhadyuk pointed out the development of the motorway network, hotels and other kinds of infrastructure that always accompanies such large-scale projects.
All in all, the nuclear power plant is not a project for one region but a project of national importance, said the Deputy Energy Minister in response to doubts voiced by a representative of the general public of Lithuania. The Lithuanian doubted that a sufficient number of industrial enterprises is available in Ostrovets District for the nuclear power plant to supply its electricity to. The nuclear power plant is designed to improve the effectiveness of the national power grid and produce a greater economic effect for the country as a whole. According to the Deputy Energy Minister, it is these facts that were the foundation of the decision to build the station. The choice of the location was primarily guided by safety considerations, although the specific location can also give a boost to the development of the region, however, it is not the key factor behind such decisions. “In France, according to AREVA Company, the country’s nuclear power engineering leader, regions compete with each other for the right to host a nuclear power plant. Ostrovets was lucky in this regard and neighboring areas are lucky, too,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
Speaking about whether the Belarusian production sector needs the nuclear power plant, the Deputy Energy Minister remarked that every year Belarus consumes 2% more electricity due to the construction of new industrial installations accompanied by the implementation of the energy effectiveness program. The nuclear power plant is capable of turning out up to 26% of what Belarus needs every year (about 39 billion kWh). “The nuclear power plant will occupy an important position in the basic generation schedule. On the whole, it will improve the reliability of energy generation and the reliability of energy delivery to customers,” concluded the Energy Ministry official.
Reliable investor, market needed for second Belarusian nuclear station
The possibility of building more reactors in Ostrovets or building a second nuclear power plant in Belarus may be considered if a reliable investor is available and the market can accommodate more electricity. The statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk in Ostrovets on 17 August when talking to representatives of the general public of Lithuania, BelTA has learned.
“If there is a reliable investor, who is ready to build another nuclear power plant in Belarus, then we are ready to discuss these proposals. However, it should take into account the availability of a sufficient market to sell electricity and the fact that once again all the international procedures the first nuclear power plant has gone through will have to be carried out,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk. He noted that no proposals like that had been submitted.
When asked by Lithuanians, the Deputy Energy Minister remarked that electricity generated by nuclear power plants is the cheapest kind there is these days. “I think people of Lithuania felt it once their own nuclear power plant was shut down. It should be taken into account that many European countries, including France, Finland, and other ones, are not shutting down their nuclear programs. The ones, which plan to decommission their nuclear stations, are very rich and are ready to spend a lot on alternative sources of energy,” said the official.
He also reminded that the construction of over 60 power-generating units is about to begin across the globe. According to Mikhail Mikhadyuk, the nuclear power plant, which will be built using Russian designs, is believed to be the safest and most reliable one.
“Prior to choosing the Russian design we held consultations with all the global nuclear industry manufacturers – France, Japan, China, Russia, Korea. And only two countries offered their technologies to us. China offered second-generation reactors but we turned down the offer right away. Russia offered a single reference project that incorporates both passive and active safeguards. By the way, the power-generating unit built in China using a similar Russian design has been recognized by the IAEA as the safest and most reliable one at present,” stressed Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
Former workers of Ignalina NPP may land jobs in Belarus
Belarus will consider employing former employees of the Ignalina nuclear power plant at its NPP, Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk told the public hearings in Ostrovets on 17 August, BelTA learned.
“Belarus has received about 200 applications from former employees of the Ignalina NPP. In the near future we will begin to recruit personnel for the NPP in Belarus and will consider their applications. Everybody understands that in the case of the nuclear plant the personnel issues require special care,” he said.
Mikhail Mikhadyuk also said that Belarus received a letter from one of the Lithuanian construction companies which expressed the desire to participate in the construction of the NPP in Belarus. According to Mikhail Mikhadyuk, Belarus invited the company to participate in the construction of infrastructure for the nuclear power plant on subcontract conditions. “We suggested this Lithuanian company work not only in Ostrovets but also in Minsk and Belarus in general. By the way, we are ready to consider any proposals of Lithuanian building companies and to forward them to the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of Belarus, and other government bodies,” added Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
Belarusian nuclear station design modern, safe
Provided all the instructions and guidelines are followed to the letter, the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be safe. The opinion was voiced by Oleg Davidyuk, head of the Belarusian culture center Krok, Visaginas, Lithuania, on 17 August, BelTA has learned.
“I’ve worked at nuclear stations for the better part of my life and know the system inside out. I can say that if all the operations are arranged in line with instructions, then nuclear stations are safe. Any accidents happen to nuclear power plants either due to the human factor or the failure to follow instructions. The design of the nuclear power plant that will be built in Belarus has been tested and practiced already. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will only implement additional and improved safeguards,” said Oleg Davidyuk.
According to the source, Visaginas residents envy Ostrovets in a good way. “We have virtually no hope for a nuclear power plant of our own anymore,” he added.
On 17 August Oleg Davidyuk took part in Belarusian-Lithuanian public debates about the report on evaluating the environmental impact of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Ostrovets.
Materials on Belarus NPP public hearings to be included into EIA report
Materials of the Belarusian-Russian public hearing held in Ostrovets on 17 August to discuss the report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be included into the final EIA report, Deputy Chairman of the Ostrovets District Executive Committee Viktor Svillo said wrapping up the meeting, BelTA has learnt.
According to the organizers, the debates in Ostrovets lasted for more than four hours. The participants of the meeting were presented detailed reports on all possible impact the construction and operation of the nuclear power plant may have on the environment of the region. All those who wished to speak up were heard out. Comprehensive competent answers were given to all the questions raised at the meeting. The questions that were not voiced could be passed to the organizers of the meeting in a written form. The protocol of the Ostrovets meeting will be prepared and published on the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Belarus in the Russian and Lithuanian languages.
Nearly 190 public members, including 102 from the Lithuanian side, registered to partake in the debates. The total amount of the participants exceeded 300 people. Belarusian and Lithuanian media were given a tour of the NPP construction site. Partaking in the hearings on Belarus’ behalf was First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vitaly Kulik, Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk, Chairman of the Radiation Protection Commission under the Council of Ministers Yakov Kenigsberg. Besides, attending the hearings was a big group of state and independent experts, environmental observers, representatives of the general contractor and the general customer of the nuclear station.
Estonian expert: Lithuania’s refusal to host Belarus’ NPP hearings has to do with politics
Lithuania’s refusal to host public hearings to discuss the Belarusian nuclear power plant can be explained by political and economic reasons, Associate Professor at the Faculty of International Relations of Euroacademy (Estonia) Leonid Karabeshkin told reporters, BelTA has learnt.
“Lithuania has embarked on a policy of enhancing its energy independence and energy security. In its view, Russia’s presence in the energy sector of the region should be reduced. Thus, the nuclear power plants in Belarus and Kaliningrad run afoul of Lithuania’s policy,” the expert said.
In his view, economic competition is also involved. Despite the negative results of the referendum on the Visaginas NPP held in Lithuania last year, some conservative groups of the Lithuanian political establishment still cherish hope to construct the Visaginas NPP.
“Therefore, they seek to eliminate the competitors somehow, or at least to make it as difficult as possible for them to proceed with their projects,” Leonid Karabeshkin said.
“There is also one more reason, i.e. a psychological factor associated with the NPP failures. It seems like it will be a huge blow to Lithuania’s image if they do not impede the progress in similar projects in the neighboring states. After all, chances are that Lithuania’s plans to construct the NPP will never materialize, while Belarus will have its own NPP,” he said.
“I think there are a lot of people and companies in Lithuania that would like to make money on the Belarus’ NPP project, which is understandable. However, it is also obvious that these companies do not have the necessary political leverage to reverse the political trend that was established by the conservatives in the previous years. This trend is involuntarily proceeded by social democrats who experience constant pressure from the conservatives and have little room for maneuver,” Leonid Karabeshkin said.
Belarus invited Lithuania to hold the public hearings of the environmental impact assessment report in Ostrovets on 17 August in line with requirements of the Espoo Convention. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus sent the corresponding letter to the Lithuanian authorities.
Belarus confirmed plans to issue free visas to all representatives of the general public of Lithuania, who are willing to take part in the hearings. It was not the first time Belarus suggested holding public hearings on the Belarusian NPP. In 2012 Belarus submitted additional materials to substantiate the choice of the Ostrovets site and information on the projected impact of the NPP on the environment and human health. In February 2013 Belarus invited Lithuania to hold bilateral consultations in March to answer questions of Lithuanian experts and the public following the study of the environmental impact assessment report. Lithuania did not respond to this suggestion. In April 2013 Belarus again provided answers to Lithuania’s questions and submitted proposals to hold consultations with specialists and the public by 20 May 2013. These suggestions were again ignored by Lithuania.