14:08:58 23/7 RKO, RO, F, RGV, SAVI / 3 23 July, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. The need to purchase nuclear fuel for the NPP will not affect Belarus's energy security. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Minister of Energy of Belarus, Mikhail Mikhadyuk, on 22 July in Minsk at a meeting with journalists from EU countries, BelTA reports. The Deputy Minister noted that the arguments that Belarus will become dependent on imported nuclear fuel with the construction of the NPP are debatable. Thus, a nuclear reactor is loaded for at least a year, so possible difficulties in the negotiation process with suppliers can be resolved within a year. In addition, according to Mikhail Mikhadyuk, nuclear fuel can be purchased for 5-10 years, as "it does not spoil and, unlike coal and gas, does not require large storage facilities." Mikhail Mikhadyuk also said that fuel for the NPP is planned to be purchased from Russia, however, fuel technologies are currently developing at such a rapid pace that the possibility of new suppliers appearing on the market in the future is not ruled out. The press tour of journalists from EU countries to Belarus will last until 24 July. 13 journalists represent media outlets from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and the United Kingdom. "The purpose of the visit is to familiarize citizens of EU member states with specific projects that the EU is implementing in Belarus within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)," the visit organizers note.-0-

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