Belarusian nuclear industry watchdog’s standards praised

The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) develops in line with high world standards in the sphere of nuclear and radiation safety regulation. The statement was made by Alexei Ferapontov, Head of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor), during the ceremony held on 20 December to sign the agreement on cooperation between the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry and Rostechnadzor, BelTA has learned.

Rostechnadzor has been cooperating with the Belarusian regulating agency since its inception. Referring to experience of cooperation with other countries, which were newcomers with regard to the development of nuclear power engineering, Alexei Ferapontov said that efforts of the Belarusian agency deserve praise. “Bangladesh, Turkey, and other newcomer countries totally lack the experience of regulating matters in the field of nuclear power engineering. Belarusian colleagues demonstrate high professionalism and good dynamics regarding the development of the national regulator. It is seen in their work during visits to Russian nuclear facilities. We are astounded by the level of competence and interest that Belarusian specialists demonstrate,” he said.

Gosatomnadzor has been created and develops for the sake of regulating matters of nuclear and radiation safety with a view to implementing the Belarusian domestic nuclear energy project. Gosatomnadzor head Olga Lugovskaya remarked that the department is in its establishment phase and deals with its development and major state tasks in the sphere of nuclear power engineering. “The department has not been created out of nothing. Many of our specialists have experience of oversight in the sphere of turnover and use of ionizing radiation sources and nuclear materials. The department hires people with experience of scientific and social nature,” she said.

Olga Lugovskaya remarked: “Since Rostechnadzor controls 33 operational power-generating units and about a dozen under construction in Russia alone, it has a huge experience in this sphere. We have only one power-generating unit under construction and the experience of the Russian side looks particularly important. The signed agreement will allow us to get the most out of the Russian experience”.

Signed in Minsk on 20 December, the agreement on cooperation will allow the national regulating bodies of Belarus and Russia to maintain tight cooperation in the sphere of nuclear and radiation safety, carry out joint inspections and train personnel together.