OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2010. Regarding the construction of nuclear power in the country, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko noted that Belarus hopes to sign with Russia the corresponding intergovernmental agreement in July.

At present Belarus and Russia are discussing the issues related to the construction of the NPP, its maintenance and personnel training, Vladimir Semashko said. “I hope in July we will sign this agreement and will move forward,” the official noted. According to the First Vice Premier, if everything goes smoothly, concrete construction may be launched in mid 2011.

Vladimir Semashko expressed hope that Belarus-Russia cooperation in the construction of the NPP will be developing despite the recent disagreements. “Whatever they say, Belarus will build the NPP,” he said. Speaking about the partnership with Russia, Vladimir Semashko noted that it remains to be seen who will benefit more from the NPP in the future. “We need it because it will help us diversify our energy mix. Russia needs it because it will help it increase the utilization of its machine-building industry,” the official stressed. A USD6 billion project is the big project which will allow the two countries to involve from dozens to hundreds of companies, Vladimir Semashko said.

Vladimir Semashko is sure that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will fulfill his promise and Russia will extend a loan to Belarus so that the NPP in Belarus should be built under the Russian project.

Vladimir Semashko added that Belarus is finalizing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report with the neighboring countries. When this report is finalized, it will be sent for the state ecological review.

However, Vladimir Semashko noted that the Russian project, which will build the Belarusian nuclear power plant, is extremely reliable.

Vladimir Semashko did not believe that Belarus will depend on Russia for supplies of uranium fuel for nuclear power plants. "First, download the uranium rods are for 3 years, and all the rules in the stock should still be the same fuel." Nuclear power can operate in automatic mode 5-10 years. We remember the gas and oil conflicts, when a wave of his hands were covered with flaps and pumps stations. God forbid you go through once again in 2006 – under the threat turned out to be transportation system. Since this plant will not happen "- he said. Vladimir Semashko continued that at present the production of fuel for nuclear power plants can create China, Kazakhstan, which have uranium reserves. Thus, at the time of the commissioning of nuclear plant uranium fuel can be bought not only in Russia.