The construction of a second nuclear power plant in Belarus is being discussed "in the most serious way", Ria Novosti reported on 17 November.

The two nuclear power stations would supply almost 100% of Belarus' energy consumption, Grigory Rapota, State Secretary for the Union State of Russia and Belarus, told a press conference.

"We are considering whether we should build a second nuclear power plant. We haven't completed the first one yet and we have already started talking about the second one."

"As yet, there are just discussions, but they are being conducted in the most serious way," he said.

Earlier, on 10 November, Rosatom was reported to be discussing the issue with the Belarus authorities. This was confirmed by director general Alexei Likhachev to the employees of Rosatom and was published on the official website.

Unit 1 at Belarus' first nuclear power plant is expected to be put into commercial operation in 2021, followed by unit 2 in 2022. Both units VVER-1200 reactors. Together they are expected to supply around 40% of Belarus' electricity needs, Rapota said.