Belarusian NPP construction workers complain about financial problems

The Russian company Atomstroyexport, which is involved in the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, has financial problems.

The statement was made by Andrei Barkun, deputy general director the enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, at a press conference on March 11, BelTA reports.

“We are constructing the plant not in economic isolation or in a special economic zone,” he notes. Of course, all problems in Russia (the general contractor is from Russia) influence the construction process to some extent.”

Barkun stressed that the construction process continued, work was performed on schedule and financing remained “rhythmic”.

“Our contractor has faced problems,” the deputy general director of the NPP construction said. “It has poor economic performance in terms of revenues and profitability due to the situation in Russia. They asked us to help them keep afloat in order not to suffer losses. We understand that the contractor has a monopoly. It won't be better if we lose it. We understand that we decided to build the plant together and we must do it.”

Barkun explained that the contractual cost of the NPP construction was in dollars and the Russian loan for the construction was issued in dollars, too. However, the cost of construction and installation works and equipment deliveries is measured in Russian rubles and converted into dollars at the end of a accounting month. If the contractor performs a piece of work worth 30mn Russian rubles, it would have received about 1mn dollars earlier, but now the sum in dollars is halved due to the fall of the Russian ruble.

Contractors, which earlier won a tender on delivering equipment at a certain price, now say they cannot deliver it at the agreed price, Barkun says.

“Of course, we can apply sanctions and fines, and it could be right. But it will be followed by another tender to select a new contractor, settle the price, which won't be lower than the current one, and rescheduling. We need to look for a mutually beneficial solution. Belarus is interested in getting a safe, reliable and functioning nuclear power plant without overpayment,” the deputy general director of the NPP construction said.

Many international organisation, including ecologists and authorities of Lithuania, stand against the construction of the NPP in Astravets.