Russia may loan Belarus $6 bln for power plant construction

MINSK. March 16. KAZINFORM Russia could lend Belarus about $6 billion for the construction of the first Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"In case of Belarus, the loan will be approximately $6 billion. A relevant agreement could be signed within a month," Putin told reporters following a round of talks with his Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Russia agreed to help Belarus build its first nuclear power plant as part of a series of bilateral energy deals signed in Minsk on Tuesday. Russian contractor Atomstroiexport will do most of the construction work.

The Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom estimates the construction costs at $6-7 bln.

According to the agreement, the first unit of the Belarusian NPP is to go into operation in 2017, while the second unit should be up and running in 2018.

The NPP should have an aggregate generating capacity of 2,400 MW, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

See www.en.rian.ru