There are no instruments left to stop the nuclear plant in Astravyets, 50 kilometers from Vilnius. Now, according to experts, former officials and the current Energy Minister speaking on LRT TV, the only option is to plan ahead.
“They built it, and there are no United Nations instruments that could stop it,” said Romas Švedas, energy expert at Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (TSPMI). “We need to be ready to manage the main risks,” when the plant becomes operational in six months or more, according to Švedas.
Lithuania’s Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas believes there are no more chances to move the plant away from Astravyets.
“We’re in a situation today where it’s more of a moral victory, and nothing else,” he said, referring to the law in Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, which bans the purchase of energy from Belarusian NPP.
According to Švedas, it’s only possible to stop electricity from Astravyets together with other neighbours, but only Poland supported Lithuania’s position. This, according to Švedas, marks another failure by Lithuania.
elarusian NPP energy will be traded exclusively by Energokonnekt, jointly controlled by the state-owned Belenergo in Belarus and Kremlin-controlled Inter RAO JES. The latter has commercial interests across Europe, including a chapter in Lithuania.
By concealing the source of the energy, it could still reach Lithuania and its neighbours.
