Belarus presents radioactive waste treatment report to IAEA

The fifth national report on Belarus’ fulfillment of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management has been presented in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), BelTA learned from the Communications and Public Information Office of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry.

The document has been developed by specialists of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department in association with interested government agencies. In particular, the document outlines the government policy and practice in the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste in Belarus, the legal base and the fulfillment of recommendations issued after the previous report was presented. The new document reviews activities and events from 2012 through 2014.

In line with the procedure established by the IAEA the countries that have ratified the Joint Convention will take four months to study the national reports of other parties to the Convention and will work out questions and comments. The national reports will be scrutinized in the IAEA in May 2015, representatives of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry told BelTA.

The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was adopted in 1997. The goals include the achievement and maintenance of a high level of safe handling of spent fuel and radioactive waste across the globe by enhancing national measures and stepping up international cooperation. The Convention is designed to prevent emergencies with radiological consequences and alleviate the consequences if such emergencies happen at any stage in the management of spent fuel or radioactive waste.