Minsk, Moscow to sign agreement to expand cooperation with Rosatom

MINSK. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Belarus and Russia plan to sign an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation between Minsk and the Rosatom state corporation in nuclear energy and related technologies, Deputy Belarusian Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.

"Together with the state corporation Rosatom, a package of documents has been prepared on further cooperation - not only in nuclear energy, taking into account the nuclear power plant's operation, but also in other areas. The government has issued the corresponding instruction. It has been fulfilled. There is a road map, and an intergovernmental document has been prepared that will signed by our countries," the Energy Ministry's press office quoted Mikhadyuk as saying.

He said Belarus had gained experience in the field of nuclear energy, which can be used in the CIS and third countries."

A session of the Commission of the CIS Member States on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy took place at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant on November 29. Taking part were representatives of the relevant ministries from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and of the Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom.

BelNPP is located near the city of Ostrovets, Grodno region. The plant consists of two Russian-designed VVER-1200 power units. The general contractor is the Rosatom group's ASE. A $10 billion Russian government loan was raised to finance the project. The first power unit of the BelNPP was connected to the network in November 2020 with commercial launch in June 2021. The second was connected in May 2023 with commercial launch on November 1.

Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev has said the corporation was proposing to set up a gigafactory in Belarus to make components for electric transport and a nuclear medicine center. Cooperation in digital and additive technologies is also planned.