Events

MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) – A command staff exercise will be held in Belarus on 18-19 October to practice responding to a radiation accident. Representatives of various government agencies and the state system for warning and dealing with emergencies will take part in the event, BelTA learned from Vitaly Novitsky, a spokesman of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry.

According to the source, safety is a high priority for Belarus as the country is implementing its first nuclear energy program. In line with international recommendations countries, which are about to commission major nuclear energy installations, have to arrange a series of exercises to practice responding to possible accidents. Such exercises are designed to check the readiness of the rapid response system, which also is important for working out response plans for events outside the nuclear power plant site.

As far as nuclear power plants are concerned, accidents are divided into those taken into account by the nuclear power plant’s design and those lying beyond the design parameters. If an accident within the design parameters happens at the Belarusian nuclear power plant, no radioactive substances will leave the site. Nevertheless, in line with international approaches countries should also be ready for accidents beyond the design parameters. This is why the first exercise has been worked out with this in mind.

A large number of matters will be addressed in the course of the exercise such as interaction with neighboring countries and international organizations, the operation of crisis centers for making managerial decisions in response to radiation emergencies, iodine preventative care, temporary evacuation of people, the delivery of clean food, and the notification of the general public about the accident.

The readiness of assets in Ostrovets District for responding to a radiation accident will be checked. To avoid inconveniencing regular citizens, evacuation will be practiced using dedicated personnel. The day before all the residents of the villages located within 3km of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction site will be personally notified. Those are 183 people in eight populated localities. Rescue workers will tell them about the forthcoming exercise, what will be practiced in the course of the exercise, and what should be done if a radiation accident happens.

The readiness of the Belarusian nuclear power plant personnel to localize accidents will be practiced using the nuclear power plant’s central control room simulator. Since several nuclear power plants are located near Belarus, parts of the scenario will be practiced in many areas of the country using various agencies to deliver information, provide transportation, supply energy, protect agricultural animals and crops, and take other measures.

By arranging the exercise, Belarus acts in strict compliance with recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and believes that safety is an overriding priority in implementing the national nuclear energy program.