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Updated October 2009
Belarus: Nuclear Chronology
2008-2009
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
January 2008
On 15 January 2008, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka announced an official political decision by Minsk to move forward with nuclear power plant construction. [1] The nuclear plant is set to consist of two third generation water-cooled water-moderated reactors. Belarus expects to commission the first unit by 2016 and the second unit shortly thereafter.[2] Several potential construction sites, Krasnopolyanskaya and Kukshinovskaya, both in Mogilyov region, are currently under review with preliminary work projected to start in early 2009. However, the site at Krasnopolyanskaya may not be suitable for the nuclear plant due to cesium contamination.[3]
— Sources: [1] "Razvitiye atomnoi energetiki yavlyauyetsya vazneishim faktorom obespecheniya energeticheskoy bezopasnosti strany" (Development of nuclear energy is the most important factor of providing for the country's energy security), president of Belarus website, 15 January 2008, http://president.gov.by/press50069.print.html.[2] "Postanovleniye Soveta Bezopasnosti Respubliki Belarus nomer 1 ot 31 yanvarya 2008 goda" (Resolution 1 of the Belarusian Security Council), president of Belarus website, 31 January 2008, http://president.gov.by/press50820.print.html. [3] David R. Marples, "The Energy Dilemma of Belarus: The Nuclear Power Option," Eurasian Geography and Economics, 49/2, 2008, pp. 215-227.
May 2008
In May 2008, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a three day visit to Belarus to assist with site selection for the nuclear power plant.[1] Belarusian government officials have reiterated that Agency experts have been consulted on strengthening the regulatory system, on drafting nuclear energy legislation as well as training of cadres for the nuclear project.[2]
— Sources: [1] "IAEA to oversee Belarus nuclear plant project," RIA Novosti, 6 May 2008, http://en.rian.ru/world/20080506/106670150.html. [2] Anya Loukianova, "Belarus takes a second look at nuclear energy," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists online, 9 July 2008, http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/belarus-takes-a-second-look-nuclear-energy.
June-July 2008
Belarus has officially invited Russia's Atomstroyexport, Franco-German Areva-Siemens, and the Japanese-US consortium Toshiba-Westinghouse to take part in the forthcoming nuclear power plant tender. Meanwhile, there are other ongoing anti-nuclear campaigns in Mogilyov region, which have collected over 2,500 signatures as of June 2008. On 11 July, Lukashenka signed a decree number 378 on the establishment of a nuclear energy department within the Belarusian Energy Ministry.
— Sources: [1] "Russia's Atomstroyexport approached by Belarus on construction of NPP," Interfax, 9 June 2008. [2] "Belarusians collect signatures against plans to build nuclear power plant," Belapan, 13 June 2008. [3] "Belarusian president sets up nuclear energy department," Belapan, 11 July 2008.
August 2008
The Belarusian government announced on 1 August that Russia’s Rosatom and the Franco-German Areva consortium have applied to participate in the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project. Vladimir Semashko, the former deputy prime minister of Belarus, reportedly indicated that Minsk would decide soon whether the agreement would be an intergovernmental or a tender.[1] Yet, discussions with Areva regarding the project were reportedly postponed due to vacation of its CEO Anne Lauvergeon, Belapan news agency reported on 8 August 2008.[2] On 11 August, Belapan reported that China’s Guangdong Nuclear Power Group indicated its desire to participate in the NPP construction project. Belarusian deputy energy minister Mikhail Mikhadzyuk stated that participation could involve provision of supplies, services, and funding. In addition, the U.S.-Japanese Toshiba-Westinghouse consortium reportedly responded to Minsk’s invitation to participate in the project by stating that cooperation would not be possible without conclusion of a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement (123 Agreement) between the United States and Belarus. "At the same time, they said it would take a few years to conclude such an agreement," Mikhadzyuk was quoted as saying.[3] However, prospects for conclusion of a 123 Agreement appear to be unlikely due to tensions in the U.S.-Belarusian relationship. A 29 August report indicated that Belarusian officials were open to the idea of the NPP construction to be conducted by a consortium.[4]
— Sources: [1]"Rosatom, Areva make bids to build nuclear reactor in Belarus," RIA Novosti, 1 August 2008.[2] "Belarus postpones talks with French company over nuclear project," Belapan, 8 August 2008, OSC Document CEP20080808950420.[3] "Chinese company wants to build Belarusian nuclear power plant," Belapan, 11 August 2008, OSC Document CEP20080808950420.[4] “Belarus may start building its nuclear power plan next January,” ITAR-TASS, 29 August 2008.
September 2008
A 24 September Interfax report quoted a source close to the nuclear power plant project administration as saying that the Ostrovetskaya site in Grodno region had been chosen by the state commission as the priority site for construction of the NPP. The "infrastructure is better" on that site, the source reportedly stated. Krasnopolyanskaya and Kukshinovskaya, both in Mogilyov region, were reportedly chosen as backup sites.
— Source: "Belarus plans to locate its NPP in Grodno region," Interfax, 24 September 2008.
October 2008
A new site for nuclear waste is necessary in Belarus, an official from the Belarusian energy ministry, Vladimir Vysotskiy, was quoted as saying on 10 October. Vysotskiy reportedly stated that there was no more space at the existing site and that the new site would be created in the 30-kilometer zone surrounding the new nuclear power plant, the site for which is yet to be agreed upon.[1]
On 15 October, Belarusian deputy energy minister Mikhail Mikhadzyuk confirmed September a speculation that the state commission has tentatively selected the Ostrovetskaya site in Grodno region for construction of the nuclear power plant. The official also indicated that the energy ministry could not "see any serious factors that [could] changes these conclusions before the end of the year."[2] Earlier this month, however, the head of the laboratory at the Sosny Institute Vahan Kazaknyan expressed reservations about the Ostrovetskaya site, allegedly located on a seismic fault. Krasnopolyanskaya site in Mogilyov region would be the most preferable site, Kazaknyan stated, because this site was the “most explored” one and because it was more scarcely populated than Kukshinovskaya.[3]
On 28 October, Belarusian president Aleksands Lukashenko reportedly officially invited China’s Guangdong Nuclear Power Group to participate in the nuclear power plant construction project.[4] "The fact that you build nuclear power plants in China by yourself, have experience in it and cooperate with the world’s biggest companies, that you are able to design and build nuclear plant[s] … by yourself—all this is worth a lot," Lukashenka reportedly stated.[5]
On 29 October, a spokesperson for Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor reportedly stated that the Belarusian government has requested training assistance for Belarusian nuclear inspectors.[6] Finally, a Belarusian foreign ministry official was reportedly quoted as saying on 30 October that Minsk would soon engage in a three-year technical cooperation project with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The project will involve training Belarusian atomic energy experts and improving the Belarusian nuclear regulatory framework.[7]
— Sources: [1]"Belarus says new nuclear waste dump is necessary," ITAR-TASS, 10 October 2008, OSC Document CEP20081010950003.[2] "Site preliminary chosen for Belarus nuclear power plant," Interfax, 15 October 2008, OSC Document CEP20081015950550.[3] "Belarusian expert evaluates potential sites for nuclear plant," Belapan, 9 October 2008, OSC Document CEP20081009950520.[4] "Belarusian president invites Chinese company to bid for nuclear plant,' Belarusian television, 28 October 2008, OSC Document CEP20081028950265.[5] "Belarus president in talks with CGNPC," World Nuclear News, 29 October 2008, http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/. [6] "Egypt and Belarus have asked Rostekhnadzor to teach their inspectors how to inspect nuclear facilities," Interfax, 29 October 2008, http://www.rosatom.com/en/news/12393_27.10.2008. [7] "IAEA to start new project of cooperation with Belarus—Minsk," Interfax, 30 October 2008.
November 2008
Seven residents of the Grodno region of Belarus, where the proposed nuclear power plant construction site at Ostrovetskaya is located, reportedly launched a campaign against the project, Belapan news agency reported on 6 November 2008. The individuals, led by United Civic Party member Mikalay Ulasevich, argue that the NPP should not be constructed in this "natural reserve and recreational area," which was also a site for a powerful earthquake in 1909.
— Source: "Opposition party launched campaign against nuclear plant in Belarus," Belapan, 6 November 2008, OSC Document CEP20081106950296.
December 2008
A Belarusian Energy Ministry official was reportedly quoted as saying that 24 Belarusian nuclear inspectors would start training in Russia, possibly in Obninsk, beginning in January 2009. Further, IAEA officials are set to visit Belarus that month to discuss training of Belarusian nuclear inspectors.
Belarus and China have concluded an intergovernmental agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation, Interfax reported. According to Energy Ministry sources in Minsk, Belarusian Ambassador to China Anatoly Tozik and Chinese Deputy Science Minister Cao Jianlin inked the agreement on 17 December. This "conceptual document" reportedly envisaged bilateral "cooperation in fundamental and applied studies, research in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the joint development of innovative reactor technologies, nuclear safety, radiation safety and environmental protection" as well as personnel training and joint work in radiation technologies, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.[2] China had previously also expressed interest in participating in the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project. (See August 2008 entry, above.)
According to 19 December comments made by the Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka, Minsk has settled on constructing its first nuclear power plant at the Ostrovetskaya site in Grodno region, and building of housing for construction personnel would begin at the site on 21 January. [3]
— Sources: [1] "Belarus nuclear experts will be trained in Russia," Naviny.by, 5 December 2008, in DOE Moscow Weekly, 8-12 December 2008, OSC Document CEP20081212026001. [2] "Belarus, China sign agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation, " Interfax, 18 December 2008, OSC Document CEP20081218950043.[3] "Belarus chooses site for nuclear plant," Interfax-Ukraine, 19 December 2008, OSC Document CEP20081219950335.
January 2009
Some sources say that in January, a delegation of French nuclear industry representatives visited Minsk to discuss potential nuclear cooperation. According to earlier reports, Franco-German nuclear consortium Areva-Siemens had responded positively to the Belarusian invitation to participate in the NPP tender. (See August 2008 entry, above.)
To assuage concerns in Vilnius regarding Minsk’s intention to construct a nuclear power plant on a site in Grodno region, close to the Lithuanian border, Belarus would provide an environmental impact statement to Lithuania, Deputy Director of Sosny’s IPEP Anatoly Yakushev was quoted as saying. Yakushev noted that this document would be made publicly available once it was finalized.
— Sources: [1] "French businessmen likely to discuss nuclear projects in Belarus-website," 27 January 2009, OSC Document CEP20090224950371. [2] "Belarus will provide NPP environmental impact assessment to Lithuania-expert," Interfax, 30 January 2009.
February 2009
The Lithuanian ambassador to Belarus, Edminas Bagdonas, expressed concern regarding lack of transparency in the selection of the construction site for the Belarusian nuclear power plant as well as Russia’s reported participation in the project. That said, he pointed out that the "determining factor" for Lithuania would be conformity of the plant to IAEA standards. Bagdonas also noted that Vilnius was interested in delivery of Ukraine-generated electricity to Lithuania through Belarus. However, Russia is an obstacle to practical implementation of these plans, the ambassador reportedly said. Last month, a Belarusian nuclear institute official noted that Minsk would provide Vilnius with an environmental impact statement. (See January 2009 entry, above.)
— "Lithuania objects to proposed Russian-built nuclear power plant in Belarus," 17 February 2009, OSC Document CEP20090218337004.
March 2009
At a 10 March press conference, Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadzyuk stated that Russia's Atomstroyexport would build the "turnkey" NPP upon completion of a Russo-Belarusian intergovernmetal agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation. That said, Atomstroyexport VP Aleksandr Glukhov reportedly noted that his company will not be the only one working on the project.[1] Glukhov also reportedly said that the Belarusians will get a discount on their nuclear plant--construction of the two units is expected to cost approximately 4 billion Euros.[2] Minsk still plans to commission the first unit in 2016.[1] This month, the official Belarusian news agency Belapan quoted an opponent of the construction project, Heorhiy Lepin as expressing concerns that construction would be much more expensive than the Belarusian government was anticipating. [3] He also said that the Ostrovetskaya site in Grodno, reportedly selected by the Belarusian government for the construction of the power plant, has not been sufficiently inspected or tested for seismic activity.[4]
— Sources: [1] "Russia-Belarus agreement on 1st Belarusian NPP to be signed in 2009-Minsk officials," Interfax, 10 March 2009. [2] "Russian company offers Belarus reduced price for building nuclear plant," 10 March 2009. [3] "Construction of nuclear plant more expensive than estimated—Belarusian expert," Belapan, 4 March 2009, OSC document CEP20090305950298. [4] "Not enough research done to select nuclear plant site, Belarusian expert says," Belapan, 4 March 2009, OSC document CEP20090305950280.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.
