“There is simply no sense”: in Lithuania they want to offer Belarus to convert an almost completed nuclear power plant into a gas power station

Lithuania wants to offer Belarus to abandon the nuclear power plant being built with the help of Russia and to switch to purchasing liquefied natural gas from Vilnius. This was stated by the Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernyalis. He claims that a partially built nuclear power plant can be converted to a gas power station.

“We would offer Belarus a strategic decision on the development of an independent diversified energy economy. “We also see prospects in the field of renewable energy,” the government’s press release says. “Of course, this is already the right of Belarus to decide whether to develop a unilateral energy policy on the basis of one country or to carry out strategic changes in the energy sector.”

According to Skvernyalis, Lithuania can be a “good example and a useful partner” for Belarus.

He proposes to use for this the LNG terminal in the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda, built in 2015 to diversify gas supplies.

“These are the problems of the Lithuanians”

Vilnius initially opposed the construction of nuclear power plants. In Lithuania, it was pointed out that construction is being carried out on a geological fault and only 50 km from the Lithuanian capital. However, this region was recognized as safe, said Vladimir Samuylevich, Doctor of Economics, a lecturer at the Belarusian State University.

“Earthquakes have never been there, the area is completely safe. But Lithuanians, for political reasons, do not trust the Belarusian operators, nor the Russian NPP builders. However, these are already problems for the Lithuanians, ”he told RT.

The site of the NPP, the commissioning of which is scheduled for 2020, notes that the safety and technical and economic indicators comply with international standards and IAEA recommendations.

The site of Rosatom - the company-operator of the construction of nuclear power plants - indicates that the project provides for special protective shells that prevent the release of radioactive substances in the event of an accident.

“There are two protective shells of the reactor building - internal and external. The inner shell is an element of a passive safety system that prevents the release of radioactive substances into the environment in the event of a hypothetical accident. The outer containment together with the inner one serves as physical protection from natural and man-made external influences, including earthquakes and hurricanes, ”the site says.

At the same time, the proposal of Lithuania, whose industry lags far behind the Belarusian one, will not be able to meet the country's electricity demand, said the leader of the civil campaign “Our House”, Olga Karach.

“The energy consumption of Lithuania and Belarus cannot even be compared. Lithuania turned off its Ignalina nuclear power plant and by and large did not notice it, she said in an interview with RT. - For Belarus, this option is unacceptable. She needs electricity, needs more electricity for industry, for transportation. Belarus already produces its own electric buses, electric cars, how can it give up nuclear power plants? ”

"There is simply no sense"

Belarus has no reason to buy liquefied gas from Lithuania, as it now buys it from Gazprom at a favorable price, Samuylevich said.

“Minsk today receives gas from Gazprom more cheaply than any other foreign buyer. And no growth is foreseen, ”the expert pointed out.

For example, Ukraine, which refused to supply gas from Russia and switched to purchases in Europe, in October bought energy at a cost of $ 323.44 per thousand cubic meters, and in November - almost $ 340. This was reported by UNIAN with reference to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. At the same time, Belarus pays about $ 130 for the same amount.

Samuylevich also reminded that the infrastructure of Belarus is connected to Russia and there is no sense in changing it under Lithuanian.

“The entire infrastructure is“ sharpened ”for Russian gas. What is the point of “switching” the whole economy, the whole industry to gas from Lithuania, whether it is Norwegian or American? There is simply no sense, ”he concluded.