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7 Nov 2020

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into future

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into future

OSTROVETS DISTRICT, 7 November (BelTA) - The Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) is a new step into the future, a step towards ensuring energy security of the state, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he spoke to the workers and builders of the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 7 November, BelTA has learned.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the completion of the most important projects in Belarus are traditionally timed to the celebrations of October Revolution Day on 7 November. Belarus annually launches facilities that contribute to the further development of economy and improvement of people’s living standards. Fro example, the third metro line was inaugurated in Minsk on 6 November. More facilities, monuments of sovereign Belarus, as the president described them, were launched across the country on 7 November.

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into futureIn his words, the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has made the holiday special this year.

“Our country has become a nuclear power today. It is a huge success. It is a new stage in the sovereignty and independence of our country. It shows that we are smart and talented people and have reliable friends who helped us build this unique facility which will serve us for a very long time,” the Belarusian leader said.

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into futureHe stressed that it is perhaps difficult to fully assess the importance of today's moment now. “Little time will pass, and we will fully realize what a feat we have accomplished with the support of our elder brother. Now when we have learned how to do it, we may build another one. By that time we will see how efficient our plant is, how safe it is. It will no longer draw so much criticism not only from our neighbors but also from some of Belarusians,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The Ostrovets NPP is a new step into the future, a step towards ensuring energy security of the state. The first power unit will cover some 20% of the total electricity needs of the country. The same amount will be produced by the second unit. The launch of the nuclear power plant will serve as an impetus to attract the most advanced technologies to the country, and not only in energy industry. It will boost the development of electric transport, new energy-consuming productions, innovative areas in science and education,” the president said.

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into future“I am intentionally naming every benefit that our country will get from this project. When the decision to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant was made, all these things were taken into account. The main criterion for us was the safety of our plant,” the Belarusian leader said.

The president stated that the Belarusian people suffered the worst from the Chernobyl disaster, and the country is still recovering from its impact. “It was not an easy decision. If we hadn't made the decision to build the plant then, we would never have done it. It is important to make decisions in due time,” the president said. The Belarusian leader also said that projects of all world’s leaders in this area were studied, including those of the United States, Finland, France and Russia. The Russian project was chosen in the end. “This was done not only because we speak the same language with Russians and not only because our nations have common roots, but because (and I am even more convinced of it today) it was the most advanced and safest project at that time,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. Moreover, the Russian project was also the best option for Belarus in terms of price.

Lukashenko hails BelNPP launch as step into future“We have as important stage ahead of us - to bring the first unit to its design capacity and commission the second one. I am convinced that together with our Russian partner, Rosatom State Corporation, we will succeed,” the president said. According to the president, specialists and experts from the IAEA, the World Association of Nuclear Operators, also express such confidence.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that thanks to close cooperation with this corporation, Belarus has developed its school of nuclear engineers. “We needed to learn to do it. These are the most advanced technologies, and we have mastered them,” the Belarusian leader said.

The president thanked Belarusian and Russian construction workers and energy engineers for the work. "But above all, my appreciation goes to the Russians for having met our most stringent requirements,” the head of state added.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also stressed that the staff of the nuclear power plant has been trained and confirmed its qualifications. Work on setting up a team for the launch of the second unit will be completed soon. High-class specialists with practical experience of working at the nuclear power plants will be employed here," the president said. The state has created all necessary conditions for the work and comfortable life. "Ostrovets has turned into a modern convenient city, a city of nuclear power industry workers. New houses and all the necessary social infrastructure have been built. We have spent more than Br1 billion on this," the Belarusian leader said.

According to the head of state, Ostrovets should become an example of further development of district centers. "The development of another one and a half hundred district centers will be modeled on Ostrovets. They are well-groomed, beautiful, but in some ways are outdated. We will not destroy anything but we will create social and production infrastructure there, as in Ostrovets," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"This day will forever go down in history. A new page in the chronicle of Belarus, a modern, intellectual, high-tech country, begins today. This is the country we are building together," the president concluded.

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