Lukashenko: Belarus can build the third power unit of the BelAES itself by 85‑90%
Belarusian specialists can independently build 85-90% of the third power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, while taking the main elements from Russia. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with the governor of the Rostov region Yuri Slyusar, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
The head of state noted that the construction of a new nuclear power plant was discussed with the Russian partner "Rosatom". "We decided that we will build the third block and will continue the dialogue on the construction of the second nuclear power plant - again, in the east (of Belarus. - Note from BELTA)", - said Alexander Lukashenko.
"If we build the second nuclear power plant in the southeast of Belarus... Maybe it will also be needed in the southwest of Russia. Anything can happen," - added the head of state.
The Belarusian leader stated that he also discussed this issue with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin during a phone conversation on November 15: "We discussed this issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich the day before yesterday, and agreed to continue the discussion."
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin supported the idea of constructing the third power unit of the Belarusian NPP. "We are ready to build the third block. There is absolutely no rejection from the President - I feel it, I know his support. The head of "Rosatom" has absolute support. Of course, they are interested in this, - noted the head of state. - Moreover, we are ready to build this station ourselves by 85-90 percent. Well, the engineering, the reactor - that’s the Russians. We will take these main elements from Russia, everything else we know how to do. The Russians taught us during the construction of this first station."
Speaking about the competencies of Belarusian specialists, Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that they help the Russians in the construction of stations abroad. In particular, domestic specialists are working on the construction of nuclear power plants in Hungary and Egypt. "In Russia today there is a shortage of personnel, as there is in our country. But we have these specialists, and about 3,000 are working with your guys on the projects. It was you who transferred the technologies to us and taught us this," - he emphasized.
As reported by BELTA, on November 14, at a meeting on the results of the work of the Belarusian NPP, the increase in electricity consumption, and proposals for the construction of new nuclear capacities, a decision was made to build the third power unit of the Belarusian NPP in Astravets. Alongside the construction of the third power unit at the Belarusian NPP, work will be organized to explore sites in the Mogilev region, where a decision may be made in the future to create additional nuclear capacities in the context of increasing electricity consumption.