Tuesday, July 3, 2012

IAEA sees Belarus progress on nuclear plant plan

* Russia has promised $10 billion loan for project

(Reuters) - Belarus has made "important progress" in preparing for the planned construction of a nuclear power plant, the United Nations atomic agency said after its team of international experts visited the former Soviet republic last week.

Belarus and Russia agreed last year to press ahead with a stalled plan to build a nuclear reactor near the eastern frontier of the European Union, where there have been many calls to abandon atomic energy after Japan's Fukushima disaster.

The plant, to be built in Belarus using Russian nuclear technology, will be located 50km (31 miles) from the capital of EU member Lithuania. Russia has promised to lend Belarus $10 billion to finance the project.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Vienna-based U.N. body, gave an upbeat assessment of preparations so far.

"Belarus has made important progress in its development of nuclear infrastructure for a nuclear power programme," the IAEA said on its website at the weekend, referring to its Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission to the country.

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