Belarus to hold NPP post-project analysis with neighbors

MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) – Belarus will conduct post-project environmental analysis of its future nuclear power plant together with neighboring countries, head of the department of state environmental expert analysis of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Belarus Alexander Andreyev told a press conference in Minsk. “Under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the talks regarding the construction of the Belarusian NPP will be continued as part of post-project analysis,” the expert said. Poland, Ukraine, and Austria have already voiced their intention to take part in the process. Belarus plans to prepare a program for post-project analysis and ensure the participation of all interested parties. “We do not have a dialogue with Lithuania yet. Their position is that we need to undo all actions taken, and to review the location of the object,” Alexander Andreev said. He explained that post-project analysis involves the participation of parties in the analysis of the environmental situation, which will emerge during the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant: which would be its actual impact, will it comply with the project documentation. “The main goal of post-project analysis is to make sure that there will be no actual impact on the environment. In other words, this is environmental monitoring in the course of construction and operation of the facility,” Alexander Andreev said. Post-project analysis is carried out both during the construction and during the operation of a nuclear power plant. During all this time, Belarus will exchange information with neighboring states. The monitoring will cover all elements of the environment-air, water, soil, flora and fauna.

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