Belarus to host two follow-up IAEA missions by year end

MINSK, 20 September (BelTA) – Belarus intends to welcome two follow-up missions of the International Atomic Energy Agency by the end of the year. Prospects of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency were discussed as Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on the sidelines of the 65th session of the IAEA General Conference on 20 September, the Energy Ministry press service told BelTA.

Viktor Karankevich informed Rafael Grossi about work in progress at the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The energy minister remarked that the safety of the nuclear power plant and openness remain indisputable priorities for Belarus at all the stages of the project's implementation.

Belarus has hosted all the missions the International Atomic Energy Agency recommends for the countries that are building their first nuclear power plant. The resulting recommendations and proposals were used as the core of the national action plan, which represent an important reference point in the work on implementing the national nuclear energy program.

Viktor Karankevich thanked the International Atomic Energy Agency for assistance with developing the infrastructure of nuclear energy industry and nuclear safety in Belarus via technical aid from the agency, evaluation and consultation missions. By the end of the year Belarus intends to welcome two follow-up IAEA missions, which will review the progress secured in the development of the regulatory infrastructure and operational safety.

Viktor Karankevich also said that experts of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant in early September as part of a peer review of the national action plan, which was put together as a result of stress tests of the nuclear power plant. The experts mentioned considerable progress in fulfilling recommendations based on results of the stress tests and in realizing the national action plan based on the stress tests.

The meeting with Rafael Grossi also touched upon the draft of a new Belarus-IAEA framework cooperation program for 2022-2027, which is now being prepared.

The Belarusian energy minister invited the IAEA director general to participate in the Belarusian nuclear power plant commissioning ceremony in 2022. “We invite you to visit our country and participate in this event of significance for us,” he said.

In turn, Rafael Grossi mentioned Belarus' openness to cooperation with international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. He reminded that as a technical expert organization the IAEA sees no reasons why the Belarusian nuclear power plant should not be commissioned. Rafael Grossi also assured Viktor Karankevich that the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue supporting this project.