Russia is the only Belarus' partner in the construction of Ostrovets nuclear power plant. It was stated on August 24 at a press conference in Minsk by First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology of Belarus, Vladimir Nedilko. "To the date, we have no other partner but Russia", First Deputy Chairman said.
At the same time, Vladimir Nedilko added that «there was a tender, we invited companies of third countries, but they did not apply», RIA Novosti informs.
In his turn, Deputy Chairman of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Sergei Rakhmanov, declared that from the very beginning NPP construction program was oriented to the Russian project. «If we have any problems now, then only of financial nature», the representative of the National Academy of Sciences reported.
Differences between Belarus and Russia appear due to the fact that the parties can not agree on the creation of a joint venture to sell electricity produced at Belarusian NPP. Belarus plans to build two-blocks’ nuclear power plant. The launch of the first one is expected in 2016, of the second — in 2018.
In this regard, Vladimir Nedilko stated he had not heard official information about the delay or postponement of Belarus’ NPP construction time and that the first block to be commissioned by the pointed time.
Before that, as Telegraf already reported, the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that the country could refuse Russia’s assistance in NPP construction. «We do not disregard other investors. In near future, we will determine who will build our nuclear power plant», Alexander Lukashenko said, adding that «Belarus has got proposals in this regard».
