OREANDA-NEWS. On January 15, 2007 the final political decision on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus was taken at a meeting of the Security Council held by the Head of State, Alexander Lukashenko, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

According to the President, the topic of a nuclear plant construction has been widely discussed at various levels. “Some issues have been settled by now; some are being addressed at the moment. But, this notwithstanding, it is at this meeting of the Security Council that we must take the final decision [as to the construction of a nuclear plant],” the Head of State said while opening the meeting.

In his words, the development of the nuclear energy industry, along with the modernisation of the active energy grids, the use of renewable energy sources, reduction of the GDP energy intensity and diversification of the sources of supply of hydrocarbon resources, is the priority factor in ensuring the nation’s energy security; a real opportunity to counteract the dictates of monopolists and minimise the damage resulting from critical situations.

Moreover, in the long run, the development of the nuclear power industry will help guarantee further consolidation of national independence and economic self-dependence, the President added.

“The construction of a nuclear power plant is a real prospect, a strategic task, and Belarus does not intend to give it up,” Alexander Lukashenko said. According to the Head of State, this is going to be a historic decision as it will prove crucial for economic, energy and political independence of the future generations of the Belarusians. “Today we are laying the foundation for the functioning of the Belarusian state in the age when the world faces an increasingly acute problem of depletion of the supplies of hydrocarbon resources. The future generations will appreciate our decision, I think,” said the President.