Lithuania once again calls to suspend operation of Belarusian N-plant

  • 2025-01-23
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - Lithuania has once again called on Minsk to suspend operation of Units 1 and 2 of Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) in Astravyets, some 50 km from Vilnius, until all safety issues are resolved.

The Belarusian NPP is being operated with intermittent and unreported disturbances, and the safety problems at the plant continue to go unaddressed, the Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) said in a press release.

VATESI called to suspend operation of two units of the Belarusian nuclear facility in a letter sent to the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) on Wednesday.

"The Belarusian NPP is being operated with intermittent and unreported disturbances, and the safety problems at the plant continue to go unaddressed. We expect to receive not only formal declarations from our neighboring regulator, but also detailed information on practical efforts to ensure the safety of the Belarusian NPP in line with the highest international safety standards," the press release quoted VATESI head Michail Demcenko as saying.

According to him, both units of Belarusian NPP are currently shut down - it was announced that Unit 1 is undergoing scheduled maintenance repairs, but there is very little information on the reasons for the shutdown of Unit 2.

VATESI pointed out that irresponsible approach to safety is now increasingly evident in the unscheduled shutdowns of the Belarusian NPP units and the prolonged timing of repairs.

Moreover, Belarus does not share information on the reasons for the erratic operation of the nuclear facility, unscheduled unit shutdowns, or prolonged repairs.

According to VATESI, one third of the Lithuanian population would be exposed to radiation in the event of an accident at the nuclear power plant.

Earlier reports said that Belarus' first nuclear power plant in Astravyets would have two Russian VVER-type reactors of 1,200 MW capacity each.

Lithuania and international experts say that the Astravyets plant's construction was carried out in flagrant violation of technological and environmental standards.