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Lithuanian Minister of Energy: Construction Of Belarusian NPP Must Be Stopped

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Lithuanian Minister of Energy: Construction Of Belarusian NPP Must Be Stopped
ROKAS MASIULIS
PHOTO: DELFI

Rosatom’s statements about the emergency scale at the Belarusian NPP cannot be taken seriously.

After the Russian state corporation Rosatom announced that the incident at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Astravets had not harmed the reactor, Lithuanian Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis stated that it was necessary to get assured of that by conducting an independent verification.

“Until a thorough assessment of the damage is given, no further work on the installation of the reactor pressure vessel can be done. The recent findings of the verification, carried out by Rosatom, as well as its assertions, cannot be taken seriously. The company has produced the reactor and, that is why, it is not interested in the objective verification of the damage, caused to the reactor,” – Rokas Masiulis said for the press release, delfi.lt informs.

“In order to dispel all the doubts, such a check should be unbiased, so the Belarusian side should invite as many independent experts and departments, as possible,” – the minister added.

Last week the Lithuanian government handed a note to the Belarusian diplomat following the incident that had taken place at the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astravets on the night of July 9 – the reactor had fallen down, being moved from one support to another.

Rosatom representatives alleged that only a body roll had taken place and only the paint had been scratched during the incident. However, on Tuesday the Vice-Minister of Energy of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadiuk said that works on the reactor’s installation had been suspended after the emergency, and other works were carried out according to the plan.

Lithuania criticizes Belarus for no observing safety standards at the plant construction. Minsk turns these claims down as unfounded.

Russian Rosatom is building the BNPP 50 km from Vilnius. The first reactor is to be commissioned in late 2018.

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