Opinions & Interviews
Nuclear loan, aid for Ukraine, Lithuania’s note in Lukashenko’s responses to Russian reporters
OSTROVETS, 3 November (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko answered a number of questions of Russian reporters as he visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 3 November, BelTA has learned.
Belarus saved part of the Russian loan granted for building the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The head of state was asked what the remaining part can be spent on considering healthy Belarusian pragmatism.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Since we took less, we will have to repay less. It is natural. As for the distribution power grids [Belarus can spend the savings on], we have absolutely no problems. If we need something, it is not a problem.”
In his words, the possibility of doubling the output capacity of the nuclear energy installations is being discussed in Belarus for now. “We would like to double it. Then Belarusians will be golden,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. As a possible way of implementing this idea, the president mentioned the construction of another nuclear power plant at a different site in Mogilev Oblast and the construction of the third unit at the site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “[Building the third unit] will be significantly cheaper. It will increase the output capacity by half,” the head of state noted.
“The key thing for me was not only building the nuclear power plant but having the competences that Russians have. We’ve acquired them,” he stressed. Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that he had once agreed with the Russian president to discuss what should be done to the saved credit resources once the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was over.
The reporters also asked the president about the export of electricity generated by the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Selling it to western neighbors as well was the original idea. The president was asked whether common sense will prevail over there or whether the neighbors will be forced to import Belarusian electricity to meet their needs. Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that things tend to change. “And I am sure that the key principle of a buyer is to buy cheap but quality products,” he said.
The head of state believes that terms of sale of electricity would be attractive to Lithuania and Latvia, for example.
“But we are missing the key point: we will not get away from Ukraine. We will have to work in Ukraine. No Americans, the West will help them. Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] and I talk a lot about it. They [Ukrainians] will come to us for aid. A huge amount of work. We will have to help Ukrainians,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He backed the Rosatom director general’s statement that it is necessary to look 50 years ahead instead of 10 years. Economy develops. More and more energy will be needed in the future. Apart from that, it is necessary to replace old facilities that are being decommissioned one way or another.
The president also got a question concerning Lithuania’s note regarding the commissioning of the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Those crazies sent a note. The people of Lithuania has nothing in common with these crazies. Trust me, I know what is going on over there. People at the top live all by themselves. I know even grandfathers and parents of those, who govern Lithuania now.”
He recalled that he had once invited specialists of the Ignalina nuclear power plant Lithuania had shut down to work in Belarus and had offered cooperation without a grudge. “But they [Lithuanian authorities] pursued a different policy upon bidding of certain people from across the ocean. It is not the first note. They can keep sending them. We can use them as toilet paper. This is why keep them coming,” the president remarked.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the process of construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had been absolutely transparent. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also confirmed it. Foreign reporters were also invited.
“If they don’t want it, then we don’t care. We don’t really stress about it,” he concluded.
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