BelNPP EIA procedures in compliance with Espoo Convention

There are no discrepancies between the environmental impact assessment procedures related to the Belarusian nuclear power plant and the Espoo Convention, First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Iya Malkina told a press conference on 9 June, BelTA has learnt.

“During the 6th session of the meeting of the parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the implementation committee analyzed Belarus’ national legislation in the field of environmental impact assessment. The analysis has revealed no discrepancies between the official environmental impact assessment procedures related to the Belarusian nuclear power plant and the Espoo Convention,” Iya Malkina said.

According to her, Belarus has been taking legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure efficient environmental impact assessment procedures since 2001, the year when the country was not party to the Espoo Convention yet. “Considering its own and international practices on implementing the Convention, our country reformed the national legislation in 2009-2010. The recent session showed that the work is bearing fruit,” Iya Malkina said.

She added that Belarus is an active participant of international initiatives as part of the Espoo Convention. One of them is the BelNPP post-project analysis.

The 6th session of the meeting of the parties to the Convention took place in Geneva on 2-5 June. Taking part in the meeting were not only signatories to the Convention, but also observers (countries outside the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, international and public observers). The parties discussed the impact of hydropower and wind energy on the environment and the application of the Espoo Convention in various energy projects, including nuclear energy projects.