{"id":88727,"date":"2024-06-04T10:36:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T07:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/88727\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"minsk-considers-building-another-nuclear-power-plant","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/88727\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk considers building another nuclear power plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By<\/em> Ale\u015b Hudzija

<\/em>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka said earlier this year that he was thinking of building a second nuclear power plant in Belarus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\n Belarusian nuclear power plant near Astravets\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Press office of the Ministry of Energy)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka said earlier this year that he was thinking of building a second nuclear power plant in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are certainly determined to continue helping our Belarusian friends develop their own nuclear industry,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his visit to Minsk in May. Russia\u2019s Rosatom said it is ready to take up the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big contracts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Big spending is more important for Belarus than simply replacing natural gas with nuclear fuel. A diversification of suppliers is out of the question, since Belarus receives both from Russia.

More importantly, an increase in power generation requires an overhaul of the county\u2019s power distribution infrastructure. Therefore, investment would flow both in construction and other sectors.

A big project like a nuclear power plant could keep the Belarusian economy afloat amid the Western sanctions. It creates jobs, big contracts and propels the economy.

The first Belarusian NPP spurred the development of the town of Astravets, where it is located, and an upgrade of power systems across the country.

The NPP created new opportunities for electric urban transport. Besides, such a complex facility requires high-skilled workers and investment in research and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy dependence on Russia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Belarus gave up on the idea of relying on non-nuclear energy, which had seemed reasonable after the Chernobyl disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After \u0141uka\u0161enka decided to build the nuclear plant near Astravets, propaganda had to convince the public that it will be safe and that there will be sufficient demand for electricity.

“We are going to build our own nuclear power plant. Life has forced us to do it,” said \u0141uka\u0161enka in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“People understand that there is no alternative to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus today,” he said in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both EU countries and Minsk’s non-EU partners are discussing the diversification of energy sources through the development of nuclear power.

Estonia and Uzbekistan are considering proposals, while Poland has already chosen the type of its future reactor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear power plants in the region<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decommissioned, operating capacity, MW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Belarus, whose government sees nuclear power plants as a way to spur the economy, other countries seek to strengthen their energy independence and diversify energy supplies. And while Uzbekistan will rely on the Russian technology, Estonia and Poland will not do business with Moscow.
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Debt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Belarus, megaprojects are more about economic survival than efficiency and development.

The key question is who pays for the project.

After announcing the construction of the first nuclear power plant, Minsk did not present any calculations to the public to prove that investment will pay off. Even after completion, there is still uncertainty about it.

The EU countries have refused to buy electricity from Belarus. A reduction in natural gas consumption has not brought about a cut in the price of electricity.

Meanwhile, the government is scheduled to make the first payment next year toward the settlement of the $5.63-billion debt to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government does not disclose data on its overall foreign debt and many other indicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only Beijing, Moscow can give money<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minsk can turn to China and Russia for loans to finance a new power plant.

Beijing is now reluctant to help Belarus with such projects because of sanctions and instability in the region.
 
At the same time, the Belarusian government may not be willing to borrow from China. Belarus has already implemented multimillion-dollar projects financed with Chinese loans and conditional on the use of Chinese technologies. The equipment has not always met expectations, and its maintenance has not always been satisfactory.

Moreover, unlike Russia, China does not usually renegotiate debt repayment terms.
Therefore, Russia is the creditor of last resort. Under the sanctions, it is faced with a surplus of funds locked up in the country, while Belarusian companies have an extensive experience of doing business with Russians and understand the rules of the game.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who pays for the party?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rosatom would be willing to lend money for the project, which will increase Belarus\u2019 energy and financial dependence on Russia.

Such a project would bring large orders to other Russian companies. Equipment will be manufactured in Russia, and the key work will be performed by Russian contractors because Belarusian companies do not yet have the required competences. Anyway, plenty of contracts will be offered to Belarusian construction companies.

Efficiency takes a backseat as the government is looking for quick fixes to economic problems. Russian involvement would be quite logical, and the rules of the game are well known to both businesses and political elites.

The project can materialize. However, it may not necessarily come as a nuclear power plant. It may be another, no less ambitious, but certainly expensive and economically ineffective project.

The worst thing is that it bury next generations of Belarusians under mountains of debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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