Energy Ministry, Gosatomnadzor respond to European Commission's statement on BelNPP license

MINSK, 4 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian Energy Ministry and the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) have made a few comments in response to the European Commission's statement regarding the granting of the license to operate the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA has learned.

The Energy Ministry stressed: “Stress tests should not be a subject of political manipulations. It contradicts their main purpose – higher safety and reliability of nuclear power plants in Europe. The organization of stress tests and the implementation of resulting additional safety-enhancing measures are an absolutely voluntary process. It stems from concerted actions of the European community, the eagerness of every country participating in this important and massive work to make its own contribution to the enhancement of nuclear and radioactive safety. Belarus is interested in it like no other country because it survived the Chernobyl tragedy.”

Belarus openly and transparently fulfills recommendations given as a result of stress tests of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Belarus regularly interacts with experts of the European Commission and the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG). “Key measures of the national action plan prompted by results of the stress tests have been fulfilled. The measures focused on additional systems and equipment to ensure the safety of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Their implementation has been positively evaluated by ENSREG experts, who visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction site in February 2021. Now Belarusian specialists are working on implementing the other measures specified by the action plan. We are talking primarily about research work and expert work that requires a lot of attention and time and is supposed to be done by the end of 2025,” the Energy Ministry said.

The ministry pointed out: “Just like many other European countries Belarus is implementing the plan stage by stage. The work will continue once the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is commissioned. There are no contradictions because the most important part of the measures has already been implemented. Preparations are in progress at the Belarusian nuclear power plant site in order to welcome another ENSREG mission, which is scheduled for September.”

The Energy Ministry said: “Instead of supporting constructive interaction in the sphere of enhancement of nuclear and radiation safety European politicians make ambitious statements in a bid to cheapen our country's progress in implementing the recommendations prompted by the stress tests. They are whipping up tensions and brand Belarus as an unscrupulous participant of the common European process meant to enhance nuclear and radiation safety. Such rhetoric vividly demonstrates the use of double standards and runs contrary to international partnership principles.”

In turn, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) stressed that the operation of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant had been licensed in compliance with Belarusian laws, which are based on safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “The operating enterprise has demonstrated and the regulatory body has verified that the established requirements are fully met,” the agency stressed.

The measures taken in the wake of the stress tests of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are not part of the licensing process. “The measures are still being implemented in the context of commitment to the continuous improvement of safety and with a view to increasing the safety margins of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in excess of the established requirements,” Gosatomnadzor specified.

Within the framework of the first phase of the peer review of the national action plan prompted by the stress tests of the Belarusian nuclear power plant ENSREG experts identified and analyzed seven tasks, which fulfillment had to be prioritized before the commercial operation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant began. “ENSREG's preliminary report concludes that the Belarusian side has properly taken into account and fulfilled the recommendations given in 2018 with regard to the priority tasks,” the agency reminded.

Gosatomnadzor shares the belief that it is important to implement all the recommendations specified by ENSREG's report on the peer review of results of the stress tests of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in 2018. Gosatomnadzor reaffirmed Belarus' unwavering commitment to fulfilling all the ENSREG recommendations, which were given within the framework of the stress tests, as well as commitment to fulfilling the measures prompted by the national evaluation of results of the stress tests within the time limits specified by the national action plan.

“Gosatomnadzor also confirms the readiness to continue and finish the second phase of ENSREG's peer review with regard to the national plan, during which all the remaining issues regarding the fulfillment of recommendations prompted by the stress tests of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be looked into. Measures within the framework of the second phase of the peer review have already been launched. Videoconference consultations of Belarusian experts and ENSREG ones took place on 17 May-1 June. ENSREG experts are expected to visit Belarus in the future. A final report on the peer review will be prepared, approved, and published,” Gosatomnadzor concluded.