Rosatom: Nuclear power decisions affected by public opinion in Belarus
The problem of the first power unit replacement will be solved on the job, Rosatom CEO Sergei Kiriyenko told journalists on September 27.
Belarus is asking to replace the power unit that was dropped to the ground during a trial installation last June and it will be done so, BELTA quotes the Russian official as saying. Despite the incident, the power unit is functional and may be used in other projects, Kiriyenko reckons. The installation of a new reactor will not result in any other expenses other than the payment for its transportation, the head of Rosatom said.
The Rosatom corporation is the contactor of the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astravets, Belarus near the border with Lithuania.
Belarus was affected the most by the Chernobyl nuclear fallout in 1986. Hence, this legacy may affect the public opinion about nuclear power engineering, Sergei Kiriyenko added. Therefore, he understands the necessity to make optimal technical decisions and satisfy the public as well. “We respect the fact that our Belarusian partners’ decisions may be affected by the public opinion rather than technical requirements," Rosatom CEO noted.
