Valentin Mezhevich, First Vice Chairman of Federation Council Committee on Natural Monopolies

– All the signs are that Byelorussian NPP will be built by Russia

During a meeting in Minsk on Jan 21 2009 representatives of the Government of Belarus and Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation agreed to complete the drafting and to sign an inter-governmental agreement for peaceful use of nuclear energy in the first quarter of 2009. This agreement is expected to pave the way for direct negotiations on the contract for the turn-key construction of the first NPP in Belarus. First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said that the Byelorussian authorities were inclined towards the project offered by Atomstroyexport CJSC. The parties have agreed to sign the document in 2009.

All the signs are that Byelorussian Nuclear Power Plant will be built by Russia. The intention of the Russian and Byelorussian governments to sign relevant agreement this year shows that the contract may be concluded without tender procedure.

The traditional close economic ties are not the only reason why the Byelorussian Government has given preference to the Russian project. The last two years have been very productive for Rosatom: the launch of two reactors of Tianwan NPP in China, the victory in the tender for the construction of Belene NPP in Bulgaria, the signing of an agreement with India for the construction of new reactors at Kudankulam NPP, the decision on participation of Atomstrotexport in the completion of Mohovce NPP project in Slovakia. Today many countries are showing interest in Rosatom’s services. Russia has highly competitive reference units and full chain of technologies for NPP construction and fuelling. So, no surprise that Rosatom is concluding more and more contracts. This is a logical process.