Nuclear power plant to ensure Belarus’ economic security

The creation of the nuclear power engineering industry in Belarus will provide additional guarantees of the country’s economic security, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during the IAEA high-level seminar held on 2 February to discuss the development of nuclear energy industry infrastructure.

The official said: “The creation of a nuclear power engineering industry represents a brand new intellectual and technological impulse in the national development. It will also provide additional guarantees of state independence and economic security of Belarus.”

Mikhail Mikhadyuk pointed out that the nuclear power plant will be able to substitute about 5 billion m3 of natural gas every year. It will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 million tonnes per annum. The prime cost of electricity generated in Belarus will be reduced.

The Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister stressed that Belarus’ decision on developing nuclear energy industry relies on the country’s commitment to using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in a safe and reliable manner.

The annual session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seminar on nuclear energy infrastructure development is scheduled to take place in the IAEA HQ in Vienna on 2-5 February. Belarus acts as the country in focus during the seminar.

As part of the seminar Belarus will arrange presentations, including those meant to highlight the development of the national nuclear energy infrastructure, the establishment of the regulating body and the operating organization, and the management of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the latest trends in the development of nuclear energy infrastructure focusing on the construction of new nuclear power plants, exchange of information and the best practices between participating countries.