Events

22 Aug 2019

Belarus to welcome IAEA’s nuclear infrastructure mission in early 2020

MINSK, 22 August (BelTA) – Belarus will welcome an integrated nuclear infrastructure review mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in early 2020, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during the press conference held on 22 August to discuss results of the IAEA’s Operational Safety Review mission (Pre-OSART).

The official said: “We use all the procedures and tools the IAEA offers to newcomers. This cooperation has been developing since 2008. This mission of the IAEA is very important and significant for us. It was very important to evaluate the readiness of the personnel and our work as a whole, important to hear a professional outside perspective and tips about what we should pay attention to. For Belarus matters of nuclear safety and transparency enjoy an absolute priority in the implementation of our nuclear energy program. We will thoroughly analyze results of the mission, will compile an action plan to implement proposals of the experts, and the government will discuss them. It is a standard practice we resort to after all the key missions. Early next year we will have to welcome an integrated IAEA mission, which will evaluate all the 19 directions of development of nuclear infrastructure in Belarus.”

A team of IAEA experts finished an 18-day mission to the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 22 August. The team included 15 experts from Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, USA, and IAEA representatives. The IEAE team looked into the following fields: leadership and management of the enterprise; nuclear power plant operation and maintenance; personnel training and qualification; radiation protection, chemistry, and sharing of operational experience; accident management, emergency preparedness and response.

Pre-OSART (Operational Safety Review Team) missions are invited in line with IAEA regulations to examine nuclear power plants under construction or about to be commissioned before nuclear fuel is loaded. Pre-OSART missions are supposed to assist nuclear operators with increasing the operational safety of nuclear power plants. Such missions are supposed to detect areas where safety can be improved, evaluate the suggested operation programs by comparing them to IAEA safety standards. Recommendations are suggested if necessary.