Lithuania Urges Belarus to Halt the Nuclear Plant Amid Safety Concerns
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (URM) has called on Belarus to immediately stop the operation of the Astravyets nuclear power plant’s first and second energy blocks due to unresolved safety issues. This move follows Belarusian media reports that Belarus allowed the commercial use of the second reactor of the plant.
Lithuania insists that the plant poses a significant safety threat to all of Europe and urges Belarus to address environmental, nuclear, and radiological safety concerns in compliance with international standards. The Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) has also expressed concerns, highlighting the lack of specific information provided by Belarus on site selection and safety assessments. VATESI warns that an accident at Astravyets could affect a third of Lithuania’s population, emphasizing the need to implement safety measures and address equipment resistance to seismic events. Experts have criticized the plant’s construction for not meeting technological and environmental standards.