Belarus has informed Lithuania of plans to build a radioactive waste disposal and temporary storage facility and is seeking Vilnius’ opinion on the proposal, Lithuania’s Environment Ministry said Friday.
The ministry said Lithuania will submit its position after compiling comments from relevant institutions and other interested parties.
Belarus is considering building the facility in the Grodno region, which borders Lithuania, or in the Gomel and Mogilev regions near the Russian border. Minsk has notified Lithuania of the planned activities of a Belarusian radioactive waste management organisation, with a final decision on the site expected next year.
Construction of the facility is planned for 2028–30, and it would be designed to operate for about 100 years, the ministry said.
The announcement follows Belarus’ decision in November to move ahead with plans to build a third reactor at the Astravyets nuclear power plant.
The Astravyets plant currently operates two Russian-built VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts. The first unit began operating in November 2020, and the second came online in May 2023. The project was financed through a long-term loan from Russia.
Lithuania has repeatedly criticised Belarus over the Astravyets plant, which is located about 30 miles from Vilnius, saying it was built in violation of nuclear safety and environmental standards.
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