Belarus to start nuclear power plant ahead of schedule

The first 1.2GW unit of Belarus' new nuclear power plant in Astravyets will come on line in "the next few days", the country's energy ministry has said following long-standing president Alexander Lukashenko's disputed victory in 9 August's election.

Lukashenko said before the vote that the 2.4GW facility would have enormous significance for the country's security of supply and economy. Over 95pc of the country's electricity generation is gas-fired, and only 15pc of its overall energy demand was met by domestic production in 2018, making it one of the world's least energy self-sufficient countries, according to the IEA.

Tensions are rising between Belarus and long-term gas supplier Russia, with Lukashenko baulking at Russian president Vladimir Putin's proposal of closer economic and political integration as a condition for continuing to subsidise Belarus with gas supplies on favourable terms. A disagreement between the two countries led to a temporary cut in Russian gas transit through Belarus to EU countries at the start of this year.

Lithuania has voiced the most vocal objections to the nuclear plant, which is only 45km from its capital Vilnius. Lithuanian authorities have called for measures to "prevent countries with unsafe nuclear power plants" from exporting electricity to Lithuania, and has legislatively barred imports of Belarusian electricity.

But Lukashenko said that: "We do not need to point out and poke at security issues. We are the Chernobyl republic, we have gone through a lot. We ourselves know the cost of the consequences."

All equipment at the plant has been tested and made ready for the launch, and the plant's personnel are ready to carry out fuel loading, Belarus' energy ministry said. A total of 163 fuel rod arrays will be placed inside the reactor.