Belarus considers setting up council on radiation monitoring of nuclear energy facilities

MINSK, 11 October (BelTA) - Belarus proposes to set up a public council on environmental radiation monitoring of nuclear energy facilities, Tatiana Bosenko, head of the department of personnel, ideological, organizational and analytical support and quality management at Gosatomnadzor, said at a press conference in BelTA's press center.

"On 8 September, public hearings were held in Belarus before a license for the operation of the second power unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was issued. They were organized by Gosatomnadzor. Anyone could take part in the public hearings. On its website Gosatomnadzor posted the information on the procedure for registration of participants, on how to ask questions and make a presentation. We also posted the thematic information materials for preliminary consideration. All in all, more than 200 people took part in the public hearings," Tatiana Bosenko said.

The format of the hearings suggested the involvement of members of the public. Thus, after the keynote reports, there were 18 remarks from the floor. People voiced their positions on the issues under discussion.

"The hearings touched on the functioning of the radiation monitoring system (with Belhydromet providing the information on this), the functioning of the state system of radiation and public health monitoring, further support of the project by scientific institutions of Belarus and engineering organizations of the Russian Federation. Other issues included the prospects for the development of the region, scientific research, the development of the personnel training system and much more. Gosatomnadzor carefully analyzed the questions and comments received during the public hearings and formulated the proposals in terms of their further implementation. Some of the proposals relate to the functions of our department, the other to other state bodies," Tatiana Bosenko said.

According to her, taking into account the positive practice of public involvement in important environmental decision-making, the National Academy of Sciences and scientific organizations suggest setting up a public council on environmental radiation control of nuclear facilities.

“There are also plans to strengthen interaction with Russia in developing joint action programs within the Union State on nuclear radiation safety in order to continue cooperation after the commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP), and also to address issues of import substitution,” Tatiana Bosenko said.

In her words, representatives of the public of Gomel Oblast came up with an initiative to introduce a professional holiday in Belarus - Nuclear Radiation Safety Workers' Day. Nuclear radiation safety in the country is ensured by a wide range of specialists from different sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing sector, science, radiation monitoring, equipment manufacturing and others.

“Representatives of Gomel Oblast highlighted that the country has the expertise in mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl accident and that it can be used to monitor nuclear radiation safety during the construction of new nuclear power facilities. They also suggested setting up an international R&D center in the Polesie Radiation and Ecological Reserve and using the potential of the reserve in developing a system of training personnel in Belarus and abroad,” she added.