Belarus Accelerates Plans To Build Nuclear Plant

Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorsky (file photo) (AFP) February 16, 2007 -- Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorsky has said Minsk will accelerate the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant.

The government initially planned for the plant to be operational by 2015.


But due to the country's energy needs, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ordered it to be ready by 2011.


The plant's site has not yet been announced. Belarus has been seeking new energy sources since Russia increased fuel prices in January.


(Interfax, ITAR-TASS, dpa)

Russia And Global Energy Security

Russia And Global Energy Security

An oil field in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan (TASS file photo)

ENERGY SECURITY is increasingly moving to the top of the EU's agenda in its dealings the outside world. A recent report identifies the European Union's main energy objectives as not just securing gas and oil deliveries from Russia, but also ensuring that it has reliable alternative sources, including in Central Asia. Nonetheless, EU officials say relations with Russia take center-stage in their thinking....(more)


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