Belarus

Lukashenka lambastes critics of nuclear plant project

Monday, April 28, 2008

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has attacked critics of the government’s plans to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus, describing them as “enemies of the people”, BelaPAN reports.

While talking to reporters in the Homyel region on April 26, the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, Mr. Lukashenka described scientists who oppose the project as “gangsters from politics” and accused opposition politicians of capitalizing on the subject for political gain. “They won’t manage to do this. I will not allow them to do this, using all resources and all power that I have in my hands today,” official information sources quoted him as saying.

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Belarus rally chides nuclear plan on Chernobyl date

Sunday, April 27, 2008

MINSK (Reuters) - Opposition protesters marched through the capital of Belarus on Saturday to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and denounce plans to build an atomic power station in the ex-Soviet state.

Belarus was the country most affected by the world's worst nuclear accident and the anniversary is traditionally the year's biggest rally for opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko, accused in the West of violating fundamental human rights.

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Chernobyl’s Harvest

Sunday, April 13, 2008

It was 1:23 a.m. local time, April 26, 1986, when the operator flipped a switch to shut down Reactor 4. As he did so, a power surge triggered a blast of steam that blew the lid off of the top of the reactor, releasing a surge of radioactive particles into the spring night. A second explosion, again caused by the sudden buildup of pressure, turned part of the reactor into a fireball, sending more radioactive poison into the atmosphere.

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A Nuclear Dictatorship

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Alexander Lukashenko Might Need Help From the Very People He Is Trying to Avoid

The biggest victim of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster would seem like the least likely home for a nuclear power plant. Characteristically undeterred by such reasoning, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pledged to construct Belarus’ first-ever nuclear power station by 2016 – the year that incidentally coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.

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Russia, France ready to issue loans to Belarus for nuclear power plant

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Belarus counts on foreign loans in order to build the first nuclear power plant, Belarus Partisan quotes Viktar Marakhin, the deputy chairman of the Budget, Finances and Tax Policy Committee at the House of Representatives, as saying.

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France understands feasibility of building nuclear power plant in Belarus, ambassador says

Monday, February 4, 2008

France understands the feasibility of building a nuclear power plant in Belarus, French Ambassador Mireille Musso said at a news conference in Minsk on Monday.

She said that the matter was topical in the contest of effort to diversify energy supplies.

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Belarusian leader calls for swifter progress on nuclear plant

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

MINSK, January 15 (RIA Novosti) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday he was not satisfied with the speed of progress on a project to build the country's first nuclear power plant.

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Atomstroyexport in talks to build nuclear plant in Belarus

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti) - Atomstroyexport, Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly, has begun talks on building a nuclear power plant in Belarus, the company's first vice president said on Monday.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced in October that his country would build a nuclear plant to ensure energy security.

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U.N. to promote self-reliance in Chernobyl area

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

By Edith Honan, Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.N. efforts to help people affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster two decades ago should focus on rebuilding self-reliance instead of treating them as victims, a U.N. official said on Monday.

The U.N. General Assembly is expected to pass a resolution on Tuesday saying U.N. activity in the region must move beyond humanitarian assistance in favor of a focus on development.

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Belarus to hold tender in 2008 to build nuclear power plant

Friday, October 19, 2007

MINSK, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - Belarus will hold a tender next year for a project to build its first nuclear power plant, at which Russian and Western partners are expected to bid, the prime minister said on Friday.

The Belarusian leadership has said the country needs the plant to ensure national energy security amid rising hydrocarbon prices. Russia doubled its gas price for Belarus at the start of the year, after over a decade of heavily discounted prices. The new plant is expected to provide 15% of the country's power consumption.

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