English

Talks continue about establishment of joint company to sell Belarusian nuclear power plant’s electricity, says Russian ambassador

Talks about the establishment of a joint company with Russia to sell electricity to be produced by Belarus’ future nuclear power plant still continue, Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov told reporters in Minsk on August 26, as quoted by BelaPAN.

There are reports that Belarus has decided to consider the establishment of the power distribution company, which was "a matter of dispute," the ambassador said.

Mr. Surikov added that the two countries were engaged in “continuous negotiations” about the nuclear power plant project. “I think that the situation will be normal,” he said.

Earlier reports had it that Russia had offered a loan for the Belarusian nuclear project, but it warned that it wanted at least half of the proceeds from electricity sales.

The Belarusian first deputy prime minister, Uladzimir Syamashka, told reporters in Minsk in late July that the government did not plan to set up a joint company with Russia. Moscow reportedly refused to sign an agreement on the nuclear power plant project until the joint company is established.