MOSCOW (AP) – Belarus’s first nuclear power plant began operations on Tuesday, provoking its neighbor Lithuania, which immediately cut off electricity imports from Belarus on news.
According to Belarusian electricity operator Belenergo, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the Russian-made Astravites nuclear power plant is connected to Belarus’ power grid and has begun generating electricity.
Lithuanian authorities have long opposed the construction of the plant, arguing that the project is plagued by accidents, stolen materials and mistreatment of workers. Once the plant was commissioned, the country’s law prohibits the import of electricity from Belarus.
Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, which built the plant, has rejected Lithuanian complaints, saying the plant’s design meets the highest international standards, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN and the Watchtower.
The corporation also insisted that it has a “zero-tolerance policy on corruption and an internal control system that ensures that any illegal or improper practices are prevented and prosecuted.” It argues that the launch of the project will help reduce the region’s carbon emissions of the equivalent of 10 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
“We are working with Belarus’ national nuclear regulator, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the EU’s European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group, to ensure that there are no implicit threats or ‘security threats,'” Rosatom said in a statement. Issued to the Associated Press.
Construction of the power plant was delayed when the hull of the reactor slipped on the ground in July 2016, when workers failed to lease it properly during installation. Rosatom insisted at the time that the reactor was not damaged, but agreed to replace the unit at the request of Belarusian officials.
Belarus was hit hard by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which emitted radiation from a plant in large parts of Europe in what was then Soviet Ukraine. That painful legacy has led to growing opposition to the nuclear plant project in Belarus.
Lithuania shut down its only Soviet-built nuclear power plant in 2009 and banned energy purchases from Belarus.
In recent weeks, Lithuanian authorities have given free iodine tablets to residents living near the Belarusian border. Iodine can help reduce radiation build-up in the thyroid in the event of radiation leaks.
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