Belarus's Nuclear Power Ambitions: A Developing Story

Belarus is not a nuclear power, but it does have nuclear capabilities. The country has two operable nuclear power reactors in operation, with a total generation capacity of 5.8 TWh as of 2021. Belarus has also recently begun taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, with President Lukashenko stating that these weapons are three times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Belarus inherited nuclear weapons infrastructure from the Soviet Union, and while it transferred all remaining nuclear weapons to Russia by 1996, it has since amended its constitution to allow Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory.

Belarus has one nuclear power plant in operation, located in Ostrovets

The Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant, also known as the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant or Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, is located in the Astravyets District of the Grodno Region in north-western Belarus. The plant is powered by two 1194-MW VVER-1200 units supplied by Atomstroyexport, the nuclear equipment exporter branch of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. The plant is owned by State Enterprise Belarusian NPP, a subsidiary of the state-owned operator Belenergo.

The initial plans for the plant were announced in the 1980s but were suspended after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The project was revived by the Belarusian government in 2007 due to an energy dispute with Russia, with the aim of achieving energy independence. The power plant is controversial due to its proximity to Lithuania, with the Lithuanian government boycotting the plant and establishing anti-radiation safety measures for its citizens.

The construction of the first unit started on November 8, 2013, and the second unit on April 27, 2014. The plant entered commercial operation on June 10, 2021, with Atomstroyexport transferring the first unit to Belenergo. The plant became the first VVER-1200 unit to operate outside of Russia. The construction and commissioning of the plant have been marred by controversies and incidents, including the dropping of a reactor vessel during construction and the pouring of excessive concrete for the foundations of a nuclear service building.

The nuclear power plant cost up to US$11 billion, with additional investments made to upgrade the national power grid for power transmission. The project is financed by Russia, with a loan of up to $10 billion for 25 years to cover 90% of the contract with Atomstroyexport. The plant is expected to reduce Belarus's gas imports, which cost about $2.3 billion in 2020.

The Ostrovets plant is financed and supplied by Russia

The Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant, also known as the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, is Belarus's first nuclear power plant. The project is financed by Russia, with Russian nuclear power firm Atomstroyexport supplying the plant's two 1194-MW VVER-1200 units. Atomstroyexport is the nuclear equipment exporter branch of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom.

The financing and supply of the Ostrovets plant by Russia is part of a broader context of energy cooperation and interdependence between the two countries. Belarus imports all of its gas from Russia, which is used to generate much of the country's electricity. In 2020, gas imports from Russia cost Belarus about $2.3 billion. The construction of the Ostrovets plant is intended to reduce Belarus's reliance on Russian gas, with the plant expected to decrease gas imports by 5 billion cubic meters per year.

The development of the Ostrovets plant has been marked by controversy, particularly regarding its location close to the Belarus-Lithuania border. Lithuania has opposed the operation of the plant, citing environmental concerns and alleging that Belarus violated international standards in its construction. In response, Lithuania has implemented measures to restrict electricity imports from the Ostrovets plant, including capping the amount of electricity that can enter its grid from Belarus.

The financing and construction of the Ostrovets plant have been facilitated through various agreements and credit lines provided by Russia. In June 2007, Russia offered a US$2 billion credit line to enable the purchase of equipment from its Power Machines Company. Subsequently, in November 2011, it was agreed that Russia would lend up to $10 billion for 25 years to finance 90% of the contract between Atomstroyexport and the Belarus Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction. The intergovernmental agreement for the plant was signed in March 2011, with a preliminary turnkey construction contract signed in October 2011.

The selection of Atomstroyexport as the general contractor for the project was announced in June 2009, with Russian and Belarusian subcontractors involved. The construction of the plant commenced in June 2012 with the foundation pit works near the village of Shulniki in the Astravets District. The first unit of the plant was connected to the grid in November 2020, followed by the second unit in May 2023.

Belarus has no weapons of mass destruction and transferred its nuclear warheads to Russia in the 1990s

Belarus has no weapons of mass destruction. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country transferred its Soviet-era nuclear warheads to Russia in the 1990s. In 1991, Belarus gained independence and inherited a nuclear weapons infrastructure, but it had no major ballistic missile production or design facilities. By 1996, Belarus had given up all its nuclear weapons.

In the 1980s, there were plans to build a nuclear heating and power plant in Rudensk, about 50 kilometres south of Minsk. However, these plans were halted after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. In 1992, Belarus announced its intention to build nuclear power plants and examined 15 possible sites. But in 1999, the Belarusian government adopted a nuclear moratorium.

In 2002, President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus would not construct a nuclear power plant on its territory but was interested in purchasing nuclear power from Russia. However, in 2006, the government approved a plan for the construction of a 2000 MWe nuclear power plant in the Mahilyow Voblast. This was expected to provide electricity at half the cost of Russian gas and to supply around 30% of the country's electricity by 2020.

In 2007, Russia offered a $2 billion credit line for the purchase of equipment from its Power Machines Company, and in 2008, the Belarusian Security Council decided to construct a nuclear power plant. The location chosen was Astravyets District, Grodno Region, in north-western Belarus, close to the border with Lithuania. The plant is powered by two 1194-MW units supplied by Atomstroyexport, the nuclear equipment exporter branch of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom.

In 2020, the first unit of the Astravyets Nuclear Power Plant was connected to the grid, with the second unit connected in 2023. The project is financed by Russia, and the plant is owned by State Enterprise Belarusian NPP, which is in turn owned by the state-owned operator Belenergo.

In 2022, Belarus amended its constitution to allow Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory. At the end of 2023, Russia deployed a shipment of nuclear weapons to Belarus. Lukashenko has said that his country has started taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, and that their use can be swiftly agreed upon with Moscow.

In 2022, Belarus amended its constitution to allow Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory

Belarus is not a nuclear power. However, in February 2022, Belarus amended its constitution to allow Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory. This amendment came after Belarus gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and inherited a nuclear weapons infrastructure. Belarus transferred all remaining nuclear weapons to Russia by 1996, and its non-nuclear weapon status was enshrined in its constitution until the 2022 amendment.

The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus marks the first move of such warheads outside of Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in March 2023 that he had agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, pointing to the U.S. deployment of such weapons in several European countries. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that his country had already begun taking delivery of these weapons and emphasised the deterrent effect they would have against potential aggressors. Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, also highlighted Belarus' proximity to NATO member countries Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.

Lukashenko's pursuit of nuclear weapons for Belarus is closely tied to his political survival. He has repeatedly accused Western countries of attempting to topple him following mass protests against his rule in 2020. By acquiring nuclear weapons, Lukashenko believes he can deter potential aggressors and secure his position as Europe's longest-serving leader, having ruled Belarus since 1994.

The Astravets Nuclear Power Plant, also known as the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant or Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant, is located in the Astravyets District of the Grodno Region in northwestern Belarus. The plant is powered by two 1194-MW VVER-1200 units supplied by Atomstroyexport, a branch of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. The initial plans for the plant were announced in the 1980s but were suspended after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The project was revived by the Belarusian government to achieve energy independence following the Russia-Belarus energy dispute in 2007.

The construction of the Astravets Nuclear Power Plant has been controversial due to its proximity to Lithuania, with the Lithuanian government boycotting the plant and establishing anti-radiation safety measures for its citizens. The European Union has called on Belarus to ensure the highest international safety standards and conduct stress tests for the plant. In 2019, investigative journalists revealed documents identifying 18,000 shortcomings in the plant's first power unit, raising further concerns about its safety.

The Ostrovets plant has faced opposition from Lithuania and local residents due to safety concerns

The Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus has faced opposition from Lithuania and local residents due to safety concerns. The plant is located in the Astravyets District, close to the Lithuanian border, and has been a source of controversy since its construction.

Lithuania, which shares a border with Belarus, has been a vocal critic of the Ostrovets plant. The Lithuanian government has raised safety concerns and accused Belarus of violating international standards and conventions, such as the United Nations' Espoo and Aarhus Conventions. In response to these concerns, Lithuania has implemented measures to avoid importing power from the Ostrovets plant, including capping the amount of electricity entering its grid from Belarus. Lithuania has also worked with neighbouring countries, such as Latvia and Estonia, to collectively limit electricity trading with "third countries with unsafe nuclear power plants".

The European Parliament has shared Lithuania's concerns, adopting a resolution in February 2021 that expressed serious worries over the safety of the Ostrovets plant. The resolution criticised the rushed launch of the plant and called for its suspension until all EU safety recommendations had been implemented. The European Union has also emphasised the importance of Belarus ensuring the highest international safety standards and conducting stress tests for the plant.

Local residents and civil society groups in Belarus have also opposed the construction of the Ostrovets plant. Protests and signature campaigns have been organised, with concerns raised about the potential risks associated with the plant's proximity to Lithuania and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. Additionally, journalists covering the construction of the plant have faced challenges, with some being denied access to the site or even detained for filming.

The Belarusian government has defended the plant's safety and invited delegations from international organisations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Nuclear Regulators Group (Ensreg), to assess the safety measures in place. However, the opposition to the Ostrovets plant persists due to ongoing concerns about its potential impact on the safety and well-being of those living in the surrounding areas.

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