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MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – In 2017 the IAEA will carry out a nuclear infrastructure review mission in Belarus. This matter was discussed at a meeting of the Russian-Belarusian working group on nuclear infrastructure development of the nuclear power industry of Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Energy Ministry.

“Special attention was given to the intensification of mutual cooperation for the preparation of the nuclear infrastructure in Belarus for the launch of the nuclear power plant. Bearing in mind that in 2017 the IAEA will send a nuclear infrastructure review mission to assess Belarus’ readiness for the launch of the nuclear power plant, the joint working group took a decision to convene for the next meeting in the summer 2016,” the press service said.

Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk informed the meeting on the results of the technical meeting on nuclear power infrastructure at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna in February, noting that Belarus made significant progress in the development of national nuclear infrastructure. The meeting also reviewed the status of implementation of the action plan of the Russian-Belarusian cooperation in development of Belarus’ nuclear infrastructure in 2015, a plan for cooperation for 2016-2017, and the supervision during the commissioning of the nuclear power plants in Russia.

The parties reaffirmed the need for continued cooperation in establishing the system of emergency preparedness and response in Belarus, a crisis center, and a physical nuclear security system.

The participants of the working group also visited Ostrovets to get familiar with the construction process of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, and the training and information centers.

The Belarusian-Russian working group on nuclear infrastructure was set up in 2013 following the decision of the Energy Ministry of Belarus, Rosatom State Corporation, the Gosatomnadzor of Belarus, and the Sosny United Institute of Energy and Nuclear Studies.