Belarus to host two follow-up IAEA missions by year end – Energy Ministry

<p> MINSK, Sep 20 - PrimePress. 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> Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi discussed preparations for the forthcoming missions on the sidelines of the 65th session of the IAEA General Conference on 20 September, the Energy Ministry of Belarus said in a press-release. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Karankevich emphasized that the safety of the nuclear power plant and openness remain indisputable priorities for Belarus at all the stages of the project’s implementation. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “Belarus has hosted all the missions the International Atomic Energy Agency recommends for the countries that are building their first nuclear power plant. The resulting recommendations and proposals were used as the core of the national action plan, which represent an important reference point in the work on implementing the national nuclear energy program,” Karankevich said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In his words, by the end of the year Belarus intends to host two follow-up IAEA missions, which will review the progress secured in the development of the regulatory infrastructure and operational safety. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, 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> Viktor Karankevich also mentioned that 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 turn, Rafael Grossi mentioned Belarus’ openness to cooperation with international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. He reminded that as a technical expert organization the IAEA sees no reasons why the Belarusian nuclear power plant should not be commissioned. Rafael Grossi also assured Viktor Karankevich that the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue supporting this project. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Karankevich invited the IAEA director general to participate in the official ceremony to commission the Belarusian nuclear power plant due in 2022, the Energy Ministry informed. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was disconnected from the power grid on 12 July 2021 by the generator automatic protection system. The radiation levels at the nuclear power plant and in the observation area did not change. The Energy Ministry of Belarus is still investigating the causes behind the shutdown. After the technical issues are resolved the power unit will be re-launched. </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>

2021-09-21

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