MFA CALLS ON BELARUS TO NOT TO CONSTRUCT THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WITHOUT HAVING CONDUCTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
Whereas the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus issued a licence to install nuclear equipment in the first block of the Astravets nuclear power plant (NPP) on 29 October, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania notes that the environmental impact assessment process of the Belarusian NPP under the Espoo Convention has not been completed. Therefore, the ongoing construction of the NPP and the decision to start installing nuclear equipment are obvious instances of failure to comply with provisions of the Convention.
The Espoo Convention’s Implementation Committee issued a report on 15 April 2013, finding that Belarus was not in compliance with the requirements of the Espoo Convention. The Committee requested Belarus to provide detailed answers to all the questions raised by Lithuania and to take into account comments of the Lithuanian experts, to ensure that the Lithuanian public was provided with possibilities for making comments on the construction of this nuclear power plant, and to comply with other requirements of the Espoo Convention.
Since 2009, Lithuania has in vain requested Belarus to provide answers to some basic questions regarding the construction project: Why was the construction site chosen specifically near Vilnius? When will seismic studies be conducted? How will the reactor be cooled? What kinds of effects will this cause to the River Neris, the groundwater, and the health of the Lithuanian citizens? These questions remain unanswered. Therefore, the environmental impact assessment procedure has not been completed. Belarus has also not taken Lithuania’s offer to hold a public discussion about the construction of the Belarusian NPP in Vilnius this autumn.
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