Lithuania invited to verify sampling results in Belarusian nuclear station environmental monitoring

Belarusian ecologists suggest that Lithuanian colleagues should take samples in areas of Belarus, which are close to the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction site, and then analyze the samples in Lithuania. The information was released by Yuri Solovyev, head of the Belarusian public association Ecological Initiative, at the online briefing hosted by the BelTA press center on 20 December.

“At the roundtable session in Vilnius in December we voiced the proposal for our Lithuanian colleagues. For the sake of verifying the Belarusian lab results they should take samples in Belarus in 2014 and then analyze them in Lithuania. I think it will considerably increase the trust of the Lithuanian public in the information provided and will testify to the transparency of our project,” stressed the expert.

Yuri Solovyev reminded that volunteers of ecological non-governmental organizations together with specialists of the national center for radiation control and environmental monitoring of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry took 70 samples near the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction site and in nearby populated localities in 2013. “We took samples of soil, ground water and surface water and atmospheric air. The samples have been already analyzed by the national center for radiation control and environmental monitoring using the latest equipment Belarus has. I would like to stress that the analysis was carried out using certified equipment in line with international standards,” said the ecologist.

When asked whether Belarusian ecologists will be able to carry out their plans and monitor the radiation and ecological situation in areas of Lithuania, which are close to the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Yuri Solovyev said: “Specialists of scientific organizations, representatives of public organizations of Lithuania welcome the idea. Unfortunately, we have not received any response from Lithuanian government agencies in this regard, but we expect that we will and the project will be implemented”.

In 2013 the first stage of the project to conduct the public monitoring of the Belarusian nuclear power plant’s environmental impact was carried out. As part of the project representatives of non-governmental ecological organizations of Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania in association with representatives of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry and the scientific community took samples of air, water, and soil to assess radiation in Ostrovets, nearby villages, and at the construction site of the nuclear power plant. The results of the survey are now the reference point that will be used later to monitor the operational nuclear power plant’s environmental impact. The survey report was presented in Minsk and Vilnius. The organizers plan to carry out similar surveys next year in the parts of Lithuania, which are adjacent to the construction site.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant will boast two power-generating units with the total capacity of up to 2,400MW (1,200MW each). The Russian design AES-2006 has been chosen to build the power plant. The design is fully compliant with international standards and IAEA recommendations. The Russian public joint-stock company OAO NIAEP – ZAO Atomstroyexport is the general designer and the general contractor for building the power plant.