Lithunia was operating a twin RBMK-1500 (Chernobyl-type) plant just 140 km from the site of the new Generation III+ VVER-1200 plant in Belarus which is magnitudes safer.<p>The majority of Lithuanians opposed shutting down their own plant in Ignalina which was done on request of the European Union. I think it was even a requirement for their EU membership.<p>And now just a decade later, the same people are worried about the safety of a far more modern and safer plant as the one that they refused to shut down just 140 km away?<p>Not very credible at all.<p>Lithuania is just upset because they invested a lot into natural gas plants and now Belarus is competing with zero-emission electricity from a Generation III+ plant they would love to have themselves.
Perhaos Lithuania has valid fears about the stability of the country given the unrest over dictator Lukashenko’s sham elections.<p>The region doesn’t exactly a stellar reputation in honesty after nuclear incidents. Japan was instantly honeat about Fukushima. Russia still lies about Chernobyl.
Let’s think from other side. It’s a great geopolitical move. Russia build a power plant almost on the EU border. It will be paid by Belarus. That’s even cooler. Now imagine some bad event going in Vilnius. Like some NATO conference. 30 minutes before it radioactive water comes through the river Neris and the city must be evacuated. Conference didn’t happen. I even don’t see a good way for city evacuation. There is not enough road capacity to the west. Like 2 roads with 2 lanes each. During serious nuclear disaster the whole city is sitting ducks, there is not place to hide and no road to run.
Is this being done in other places close to nuclear plants? The article just mentions that there are allegations of security standards not being followed but who was making the accusations and why?<p>And why are the Baltic states pulling out of the Belorussian energy network?<p>I find the article pretty sparse on details.
Ignore those political claims.<p>Read reliable sources.
<a href="https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-missions/seed_mission_report_belarus_2017.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-mi...</a><p><a href="https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-missions/inir-3-mission-belarus-040320.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-mi...</a><p>Belarus can not help political hysteria in Lithuania no matter how actually safe NPP is.
I wonder why they practice distributing iodine pills rather than just distribute them ahead of time?<p>The article reminds me of fraudulent material certificates at South Korean nuclear plants. As much as I advocate for nuclear power, I am fearful that more disasters will occur due to human error.
This seems at least 60% political to try to get the population worried about foreign 'scary' nuclear, and the fact they have no control over it...
It’s fun to see how Lithuanians fucked up their own nuclear power plant, basically murdered their own cheap energy production, then had to buy electricity from other countries and stage drills to pretend they closed their own station “for good”.