Belarus counts on IAEA assistance in implementing radioactive waste disposal strategy

<p> MINSK, Sep 23 - PrimePress. While drafting a framework programme to guide Belarus-IAEA cooperation in 2022-2027, Belarus would be interested in sustained assistance projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency with a focus on radioactive waste disposal, said Belarus Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “Belarus is primarily interested in the continuation of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s technical aid projects for the sake of enhancing the potential of the Belarusian nuclear power plant's operating company and in the sphere of training personnel in the area of nuclear safety regulation. Apart from that, we count on the IAEA’s technical aid with realizing the radioactive waste management strategy,” BelTA reports citing Karankevich as saying. </p> <p>   </p> <p> With reference to the framework program to guide Belarus-IAEA cooperation in 2022-2027, Karankevich mentioned the enhancement of the national infrastructure of radiation protection, the creation of a nuclear security training center in Belarus, the development of quality management programs in the area of radiology and radiation oncology. Belarus is also interested in the International Atomic Energy Agency's new initiatives concerning fight against infectious diseases and plastic environmental pollution. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “All these matters are being worked on. We hope work on reconciling the draft program will enter the final stage soon,” said Karankevich. </p> <p>   </p> <p> By late 2021, Belarus plans to receive two follow-up missions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the end of the year, which will review the progress secured in the development of the regulatory infrastructure and operational safety. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The first mission of the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) is due at the BelNPP site as early as Oct 2021. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Experts of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant in early September as part of a peer review of the national action plan, which was put together as a result of stress tests of the nuclear power plant. The experts mentioned considerable progress in fulfilling recommendations based on results of the stress tests and in realizing the national action plan based on the stress tests. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In 2018, Belarus voluntarily conducted stress tests on the Astravyets nuclear plant following EU-recommended procedures. Based on the results of the stress tests, experts offered a number of recommendations that address safety stocks beyond the requirements established by regulations and safety standards. After the stress tests conducted in 2017-2018, Belarus worked out a National Action Plan in 2019, which outlined 23 measures to be taken from 2019 to 2025. As previously reported, as of February 2021, Belarus had partially implemented only eight out of the 29 recommendations based the stress tests analysis. In June 2021 the European Commission issued a statement saying they found it regrettable that Belarus had decided to start the commercial operation of the Astravyets nuclear power plant, without addressing all the safety recommendations contained in the 2018 EU stress test report. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belarus’ first nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (a town in the Grodno Oblast also referred to as Astravyets) will have two units with a combined capacity of up to 2,400 megawatts. The AES-2006 Russian standard design of (generation 3+) was chosen for its construction. Rosatom’s division Atomstroyexport acts as the general contractor for the NPP construction. The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant RUE is the project customer and the future operator of the NPP. The ceremony of the official launch of the NPP took place in early November 2020. The first power unit of the NPP was put into commercial operation on 10 June 2021, the second power unit – due in H1 2022. End </p>

2021-09-24

Primepress