Cooling towers of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. An archive photo
MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Plans to build the second nuclear power plant in Belarus have not been scrapped. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement in his speech in the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on 14 March during an official visit to the Russian Federation, BelTA has learned.
Speaking about cooperation between Belarus and Russia in the sphere of innovations and science, the head of state noted that during the initial stage joint Union State programs focused on supporting individual enterprises and economy branches. For instance, the programs “Union TV set” and “Union engine” worked like that.
“At present programs of the Union State are geared towards creating and developing new cutting-edge areas of science and technology,” the president pointed out.
Eight programs on space exploration alone have been implemented with assistance of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. A crew including Belarus’ first woman cosmonaut went into orbit in March 2024. A Belarusian-Russian space satellite has been designed and functions as part of the group of remote Earth sensing satellites. A new satellite with superb resolution of up to 35cm is being designed. “The core equipment is ours, the platform is yours, it is almost ready,” the president remarked.
“The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was the most technologically advanced and largest project in the history of Belarusian-Russian relations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. He pointed out that Belarusian nuclear industry specialists had a good reputation in the Soviet Union and abroad, this is why this intellectual base should not have been lost for good.
As a result with assistance of the Russian side a domestic nuclear power plant has been built in Belarus. It demonstrates efficient performance. The president noted that it had to be done against the backdrop of hysteric Lithuania, which had been forced to shut down the Ignalina nuclear power plant back in the day, and Poland, which kept criticizing Belarus’ plans for building the nuclear power plant. Apart from that, it was necessary to overcome domestic fears in Belarus’ general public due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. “People trusted me and supported me,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
In his words, the possibility of building the second nuclear power plant in Belarus had been discussed the day before during talks with the Russian president. Belarus’ need for electricity was emphasized: whether it will grow or not. The head of state remarked that electricity consumption is rising due to an increase in the number of electric vehicles, due to cryptocurrency mining, and due to houses switching to electric heating. The development of the manufacturing sector will require a large amount of electricity as well. “This is why we’ve asked Russians to build the second nuclear power plant if possible. We will build it on our own. Except for the reactor,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We have specialists.”
Speaking about the location of this facility, the president supposed that it may be built near the eastern border: “If something happens, we will be able to supply Bryansk Oblast and other oblasts, new regions of Russia with electricity.”
The head of state did not rule out the possibility that Western neighbors may resume buying electricity from Belarus in the future because it is profitable. “Those crazies will also come back to our electricity. I think people over there will wise up soon. Just like in America. Once the administration changes, new people will rise. They will realize that they have to live according to laws of economy and buy cheaper things. Ours were cheaper,” the president said.
Speaking about future joint projects, he noted that Belarus and Russia are working on setting up a center for nuclear research and technology.
Unique R&D products for treating kids with spinal pathologies, oncological, neurological and other diseases using cellular technologies have become a real breakthrough in the healthcare systems of both countries, the president stated.
“We have learned how to make medical goods of the highest class in the field of orthopaedy and traumatology on our own. These and other areas are stipulated by the strategy on scientific and technological development of the Union State till 2035,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
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