Belarus presents report on managing spent nuclear fuel, radioactive waste in IAEA

MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) – The 7th national report on how Belarus fulfils 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 Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor).

The report was put together by Gosatomnadzor in association with other government agencies concerned. It contains a list of installations that deal with spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste in Belarus. It offers information about the government policy and practices in this sphere, information about how recommendations given after the previous report was presented have been fulfilled, and other kinds of information. The report covers activities and events that happened in 2017-2020.

In line with the established procedure the countries that have ratified the convention will examine national reports of other countries, will formulate questions, and will give answers to questions concerning their own reports. The national reports will be defended in the IAEA headquarters during a regular review meeting of the parties to the convention in May-June 2021.

The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was adopted in 1997. Its goals include reaching and maintaining a high level of safety of spent fuel management and radioactive waste management worldwide through strengthening national measures and international cooperation, including technical cooperation in the field of safety. Belarus ratified the convention on 17 July 2002. The convention came into force in Belarus on 24 February 2003.