President proposes new measures to block Astravyets electricity

"Imports of electricity produced in a dangerous way for Lithuania's environment and public health poses threat to our national security. Therefore, we must take additional measures already now to restrict the possibility of such electricity entering Lithuania's territory," Nauseda was quoted in a statement released by the president office.

The proposed amendments would allow canceling electricity import permits immediately and not issuing new ones for power imports from third countries with nuclear power plants deemed unsafe from the very beginning of their operation, the statement reads.

Moreover, Lithuania's National Energy Regulatory Council could also ask the government's special commission assessing deals of strategic enterprises to investigate power importers, and if it found that they posed threat to national security, the service could immediately withdraw permits.

In 2017, the Seimas of Lithuania recognized the Astravyets NPP unsafe and posing threat to Lithuania's national security, environment and public health. It also adopted a law banning power important from unsafe power plants.

Belarus rejects all of Lithuania's reproaches that the power it's building is unsafe. The Astravyet's NPP is scheduled to come online in January, 2020.