And why are the Baltic states pulling out of the Belorussian energy network?
I find the article pretty sparse on details.
- https://www.ft.com/content/a98322de-96f7-11e7-b83c-9588e51488a0
- https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-launched-nuclear-power-plant-despite-safety-issues-/30928660.html
- https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/21/belarus-nuclear-plant-minsk-set-to-fire-up-reactor-just-45km-from-vilnius
Lithuania issued several diplomatic notes and protests, requesting to address the safety issues, but there was little cooperation from the other side.
I wonder if the Chinese are just more efficient at this or do they cut corners as well?
Let a Thousand Reactors Bloom
Do you have a proof that Belarus ignored numerous safety recommendations by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other parties. If you check IAEA site you would notice that Belarus fulfilled most of their recommendations.
About dropping the 330 ton reactor vessel.That reactor vessel was changed and construction was delayed because of it.
About so called safety issues. First of all - there is IAEA and other organisations that checks nuclear plant safety. Lithuanian Ministry of International affairs does not have competency or knowledge to analyse nuclear plant safety. In fact, they do not provide and reliable information, just political claims.
> https://twitter.com/RosatomGlobal/status/1361996208928153604
To protest the operation of the new power plant. Belarus has no reason to operate it in the first place if they don't have buyers for the electricity. They'll probably exchange with Kalinigrad and mainland Russia anyway and electricity from the Astravets NPP could end up in the Baltics via the Russian grid. It's just that they make it more expensive this way. Latvia wants to ask for origin certificates for Russian electricity, which is kind of silly. How does one discern between a Russian or a Belorussian megawatt?
https://www.reuters.com/article/litgrid-belarus-idUSKBN27J2C...
Also, this is a politically motivated move that actually reduces safety because if the NPP's somehow gets disconnected from the grid and the exchange with the Baltics is shut down as well, they have a loss of coolant accident on their hands. I really hope they have working diesel generators in good condition and good interconnects with Russia and Poland.