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“I have not planned to speak about the BelNPP in detail but one of the draft resolutions submitted for your consideration outlined ‘deep concerns’ about the BelNPP construction. Fortunately, common sense has prevailed and this resolution has not been approved. Now, I would like to ask those pushing this issue whether Belarus is the only country building a nuclear power plant. No, it is not. Do we have dozens of energy reactors? Not at all!” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

“Although Belarus is not the only country associated with the peaceful atom, I would like to assure you that we will build the safest nuclear power plant. This was not an easy decision, taking into account the Chernobyl tragedy. We understand that safety is a top priority. This is what both Europeans and our neighbors are concerned about. We are set to commission the BelNPP on schedule, in compliance with all the IAEA standards,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

He also recalled Belarus invited Lithuanian citizens to join the BelNPP project when Lithuania decommissioned its NPP in Ignalina. “Many Lithuanian nuclear specialists got a job in Belarus then,” the president said.

According to him, the launch of the BelNPP will be a leap towards another technology level. The project is also important in terms of Belarus’ energy independence

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is built using the Russian nuclear power plant design AES-2006 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The power plant will have two power-generating units, with each able to generate 1,200MW of electricity. The first unit is to be commissioned in 2019, the second one - in 2020.