Belarusian here, actually we don't need this NPP too!
In our non-democratic country all decisions are made by single person and you know his name. The idea of selling electricity to Baltics was imposed by Russia to him. Russia gives loan and builds NPP, and Belarus makes money. Who'd say no to this, right?
Now, when Lithuania makes everything it can to ban transferring electricity from Belarusian NPP into EU, our government has a painful headache. They really don't know how to use this electricity inside Belarus. They also need to build new reserve capacity for NPP.
P.S. 1-st NPP in Belarus/BSSSR were being constructed ~ in 35km (22 miles) from Minsk (capital). But it was cancelled after Chernobyl explosion and converted into gas-fired power plant.
P.P.S Less than mont ago our minister of energy were talking about 2nd and 3rd NPP.
> Belarusian here, actually we don't need this NPP too!
Belarus previously had 99% of its electricity produced by thermal plants. The new NPP will produce 30% of the power in Belarus and seriously reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For $12'000'000'000 we could build a lot of small-medium size biogas (for agriculture all around the country), wind and hydro plants. Even solar plants can produce a lot of electricity from Marth till October.
Do you know how many sunny days are there in Belarus between March and October?
Also, where do you suggest building a hydro power plant, given that the difference between the highest and the lowest point in the country is about 200 m?
Not the BYD or noname EV, the same model.