China to fund Belarus nuke plant infrastructure

MINSK - Belarus is going to raise a soft loan from the Export-Import Bank of China for 15 years for the construction of nuclear power plant (NPP) infrastructure.

From 2013 to 2018, Belarus is going to raise a soft loan worth $323.8 million from the Export-Import Bank of China for 15 years for the implementation of the infrastructure construction of the power plant output and connection with the power network, Belarusian government said Thursday in a statement.

Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik has been authorized to hold the negotiations on the draft loan agreement before signing it.

The contract stipulates a complex rebuilding of the 330KW high- voltage power lines, the construction and renovation of the 330KW electric power substations which are part of the NPP power system, including design works, construction, renovation, supplies and installation of equipment, works relating to adjustment and commissioning, tests, personnel training, commissioning of the facility and technical maintenance during the warranty period.

The construction and setup of the first block of the future NPP should be finished in 2017. The second block will be completed in 2019 and launched in 2020. The NPP will be located in the Ostrovets district of the Grodno region.