Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Energy, Energy Market, Lithuania, Nuclear power plant, Security

"According to the usual international practice, a plan for the implementation of the mission's recommendations and proposals is prepared after it is completed and measures under the plan are implemented before the permit to launch the unit is issued," VATESI said.  

"Unfortunately, Belarus did not present either its plan for the implementation of the recommendations and proposals or the results of the implementation of this plan to the international community before the start of the launch of the nuclear power plant's first unit," it added. 

The IAEA mission, which took place between February 24 and March 4, 2020, assessed Belarus' general level of readiness for nuclear energy regulation, safety, radioactive waste management, financial and human resources, and physical safety, according to VATESI.   

The mission's report contains seven recommendations and six proposals, it said. 

Vilnius is the biggest critic of the Astravyets plant and is determined to boycott its electricity. Minsk denies that the facility fails to meet international safety standards.