OREANDA-NEWS. June 01, 2009.  The governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The agreement was signed by Deputy Director General for Nuclear Power Complex of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Alexander Lokshin and Minister of Energy of Belarus Alexander Ozerets.

This document is laying a legal basis for Russian-Byelorussian cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, particularly, for the project to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus.

It will be a plant of Russian design. The general contractor of the project is Atomstroyexport CJSC. The Russian company will carry out the construction on a turn-key basis.

First Vice President of Atomstroyexport CJSC Alexander Glukhov said that an own nuclear power plant would be an additional alternative to the supplies of Russian gas. “The Russian project selected by our Byelorussian colleagues for their first nuclear power plant meets all modern international safety requirements and standards.” “The parties have yet to do much work to form an additional legislative and contractual framework for the project,” Glukhov said.

Belarus is planning to build a 2,400MW NPP-2006. The 1st unit is supposed to be launched in 2016, the 2nd one — in 2018. The plant will be situated in Ostrovets, Grodna region.

Atomstroyexport CJSC is the leading Russian organization implementing contracts for the construction of nuclear power plants abroad. After the launch of two units of Tianwan NPP in China, ASE continues the construction of Kudankulam NPP in India, Busherh NPP in Iran and Belene NPP in Bulgaria.