Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant: Expensive and Dangerous

Estimated costs for construction of a nuclear power station are to make 4 billion dollars. This sum was announced by independent experts in the middle of the year 2007 as a minimal estimated cost. Last week Finance Minister Mikalay Korbut has confirmed that. But in reality expenses could be much higher. Meanwhile, discontent over Lukashenka’s “nuclear” ambitions grows. The state policy aimed at construction of the nuclear power plant is disapproved by many.

The Belarusian Green party (BGP) has distributed a statement demanding to carry out a public environmental expert review and referendum on expediency of construction of a nuclear power station in Belarus, and to attract citizens to the decision-making process on construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, on February 2 public hearings of the issue of the nuclear power plant construction, initiated by the Belarusian Popular Front party, is to take place. As said by the organizers of the hearings, only extensive discussion of the problem could help to find out whether there is a real necessity to build a nuclear power plant in the country. At the moment all decisions are held backstage, decisions made by Lukashenka alone, and construction of the nuclear power plant poses a real and undisputable threat for Belarus, its citizens, and for Europe in general.