US trying to stop Turkey Akkuyu NPP project by blocking funds: Rosatom
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Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev accused the US of trying to obstruct the Turkish-Russian project by interfering in state transfers.
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An aerial shot shows the Power Unit 1 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) under construction in the town of Buyukeceli, Turkey on April 26, 2023 (Sputnik)
The United States is attempting to interfere with the Russian-aided building of Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power station by restricting money transfers, according to Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Russia's Rosatom state nuclear enterprise.
Likhachev vowed Sunday that the project would not be halted, telling Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin that the "payment system is under attack. They are seizing money. They, meaning the Americans who are going between our legal entities, between our banks. And a lot of other things are being affected as well."
"Dogs bark, but the caravan goes on," he asserted.
Rosatom says ready to aid Belarus in construction of 2nd nuclear plant
On another note, Rosatom offered to help Belarus build a second nuclear power plant if the Belarusian government makes a formal request, Stanislav Levitsky, director of Rosatom's country office in Belarus, revealed last year.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he was considering the "crazy idea" of building a second nuclear power plant in the country's east.
"We are always happy to lend a helping hand, but based on a clear need from Belarus. Taking into account our excellent cooperation ties and the good synergy achieved during the implementation of the BelNPP [Belarusian nuclear power plant] project, we will be ready to do this. But it is up to the [Belarusian] republic to decide first," Levitsky told reporters at the opening of the Science Festival in Minsk.
Rosatom is confident that nuclear energy can help Belarus meet its energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
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