Belarus to sign nuclear waste management agreement with Russia by year end

MINSK, 11 October (BelTA) – Plans have been made to sign an intergovernmental agreement on nuclear waste management with the Russian Federation by the end of the year, BelTA learned from Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich as the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum opened in Minsk on 11 October.

Viktor Karankevich talked about progress in the realization of Union State programs in the power engineering industry. There are a total of three programs – on cooperation in nuclear energy industry, on forming the common markets of natural gas and electricity.

“Virtually all the steps specified by the nuclear industry cooperation program have been taken. There are plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on managing radioactive waste by the end of the year,” the official said.

As for the Union State program on creating a common market of natural gas, Belarus and Russia are now discussing the price Belarus will pay for natural gas deliveries in 2023 as well as principles of forming the market.

The implementation of the program on creating a common market of electricity continues. “The agreement on forming the market has gone through virtually all the intrastate procedures and will be submitted for consideration of the two governments soon,” Viktor Karankevich added.