Gosatomnadzor to publish up-to-date information on implementing national action plan to enhance BelNPP safety in October

<p> MINSK, Oct 6 - PrimePress. The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) will publish up-to-date information on the implementation of the national action plan to enhance safety of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP, Astravyets, Grodno Oblast) by the end of October 2021, said Oleg Sobolev, a consultant with the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor). </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> ENSREG is conducting a peer review of the national action plan, which Belarus put together after stress-testing the nuclear power plant. According to Oleg Sobolev, the experts are evaluating how Belarus has responded to the proposals made at all stages of the stress tests, how their recommendations are reflected by the national action plan, and how the plan's implementation is going on. The peer review included two phases. The first one took place in early 2021. The experts analyzed seven priority matters, which they believed it was important to study before the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is commissioned. A preliminary report about the peer review was prepared. The main conclusion of the ENSREG experts during the first stage is that Belarus has properly taken into account the recommendations, has planned and realized measures with regard to the seven priority matters. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The second phase of the peer review is nearing completion now. A series of expert consultations in the format of videoconferences was arranged and a team of experts visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant site. The final report on the peer review will be considered at the next ENSREG session in late November. “Once it takes place, we will publish this document,” the Gosatomnadzor representative said. </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>

2021-10-07

Primepress