Gosatomnadzor speaks about readiness of BelNPP second unit for commissioning

MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) - Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) Olga Lugovskaya spoke about the preparations to commission the second unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP) during the public hearings held ahead of granting the license to operate the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA has learned.

“We are now approaching the phase to test the equipment of the second power unit at rated capacity within a span of 15 days. Inspection works will be carried out: we will visit the site and examine the readiness of all the systems for this phase. The review of expert documents is almost complete - we have already received a conclusion from our expert organization – the Joint Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. In the near future, we would like to make a general review and consider all elements of readiness of the operating organization as the main operating entity at the NPP site,” Olga Lugovskaya said.

In her words, the main task of today's public hearings is to inform the public about the preparation of the decision to issue the license to operate the plant's second power. This is not just the construction of a very important facility, it is the formation of the entire industry - nuclear power, the Gosatomnadzor head said.

“There are IAEA requirements on mandatory elements that must be created in the country to make the functioning of such a complex facility flawless. These requirements are enshrined in documents. There are guidelines for newcomer countries that contain specific actions to be performed before the start of the plant's operation. Our country has implemented them: there is a corresponding confirmation from numerous IAEA missions that took place in Belarus,” Olga Lugovskaya said.

Along with technical and organizational aspects that determine the safe operation of the Belarusian NPP as an integral facility with two power units, the public hearings discussed infrastructural aspects of the long-term implementation of the Belarusian nuclear power program.

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The Gosatomnadzor head dwelt on the elements of infrastructure in terms of regulatory activities. This is an independent regulatory body (Gosatomnadzor), systems of nuclear law, licensing and permitting, control and supervision, emergency preparedness and response, scientific and technical support, creation of awareness among stakeholders. It is also important to participate in the global nuclear safety regime, and Belarus is a party to all important conventions in this area.