“The presidents devoted a lot of time to considering the situation with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ostrovets. Today it is probably the most significant joint integration project. In the first block, we are now approaching a very important stage of commissioning. It is clear that it is very important to carefully move and verify all steps very carefully,” the First Deputy Prime Minister said. “It was entrusted by the end of February to all responsible people (both Rosatom and our Ministry of Energy) to set the final schedule for completing work on the first block.”
“Plus, at the government level, negotiations should be held to discuss the terms of the loan to finance the station. Taking into account a certain shift in terms that has already taken place,” Dmitry Krutoy stated.
He recalled that, as the President of Belarus has repeatedly emphasized, BelNPP should be the safest station. “Therefore, there should be no rush here. Everything should be very carefully verified,” the First Deputy Prime Minister said.
Answering BelTA's clarifying question about changing the terms of the loan, Dmitry Krutoy explained that this is still a subject of negotiations between the relevant departments and the ministries of finance. “Here is an obvious solution, given the slight delay. We ask to postpone the start of loan repayments. Plus, we ask that in order not to bear additional burdens, to extend the term of this loan and lower the interest rate somewhat, bringing it in line with approximately those contracts that Rosatom has in other countries. There may be a slight adjustment to the interest rate. But while it’s too early to talk about final agreements here, experts have to seriously work,” he said.
As reported, on November 25, 2011, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on providing the government of Belarus with a state export loan for the construction of a nuclear power plant, providing for the allocation of up to $ 10 billion. Funds were provided to finance 90% of the cost of the general contract for the construction of the NPP. Another 10% is paid by Belarusian side.
Belarusian NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MW is being built under Russian project near Ostrovets (Grodno oblast).
