About half of Belarus' population is in favor of the construction of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets, according to the annual survey of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (% of respondents):
2005 – 28.3
2006 – 28.8
2008 – 54.8
2010 – 57.0
2011 – 59.4
2012 – 53.5
2013 - 47.6
2014 – 49.8
2015 – 47.8
2016 – 49.8
The main advantages of the nuclear power, according to the Belarusians, are:
45.5% - cheaper energy for households
28.8% - new jobs
23% - energy independence
21.1% - lower dependence on energy import
18.2% - energy security
The main concerns are:
56.3% - manmade disaster risks
49.9% - radioactive waste disposal
31.3% - environmental deterioration
As many as 2,000 people were polled across all the Belarusian regions, including 300 residents of Ostrovets District.
Source: The Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.