Peaceful Atom to World-Class Standards

Up to 350 nuclear power units are projected to be built across the world by 2030 while nuclear energy production is expected to increase by 25%.

The reasons are pretty obvious. Nuclear energy is cheaper and more powerful than traditional energy sources and is just as eco-friendly as renewable energy. Taking into consideration Belarus’ efforts to reduce the import of Russian gas and get access to inexpensive energy, the country’s accession to the global nuclear power program makes much sense.

Belarus made the first steps towards its own nuclear power plant back in 2005. The NPP project kicked off successfully. Belarus was hailed as one of the most advanced nuclear power newcomers by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The organization even recommended using Belarus’ nuclear power practices in other countries.

Cooperation Highlights

Belarus closely collaborates with the IAEA across all the aspects of the national nuclear power program. Belarus is among 154 members of the organization (as of August 2012).
The cooperation primarily focuses on the development of the infrastructure for the Belarusian nuclear power plant, nuclear and radiation safety, emergency response and use of nuclear technologies in medicine. One of the most important priorities of the bilateral cooperation is the rehabilitation of the regions affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The IAEA Technical Cooperation Program for 2012-2013 features four Belarusian national projects with an estimated budget of ?930,000. The projects deal with nuclear infrastructure and personnel training, among other things. The two parties are also working to enhance the efficiency of the national nuclear and radiation safety authority by creating an effective system of the attestation of specialists and experts.

One of the national projects aims to make sure that fast and efficient medical care be provided in the event of nuclear or radiation emergency. A special focus is placed on practical skills. Experts of both parties are working to upgrade and expand an atmospheric radiation monitoring system.

Our country takes part in a total of 30 regional and interregional technical cooperation projects of the IAEA across various fields. The bilateral cooperation includes expert missions of the organization, the holding of national and regional seminars and training sessions in Belarus with the participation of IAEA specialists as well as participation of Belarusian experts in conferences, seminars and training courses of the IAEA.

NPP to World-Class Standards

One of the priority objectives of Belarus is the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety adopted in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. In line with the document, IAEA missions are set to visit Belarus for a comprehensive evaluation of the nuclear energy infrastructure as part of the country’s nuclear energy program.
One of such missions visited Belarus in June 2012. It included 14 experts from the Secretariat of the IAEA and the states having extensive experience in nuclear energy, and also representatives from more than 20 government bodies and organizations of Belarus involved in the national nuclear power program.

The mission analyzed 19 areas viewed as most important for successful implementation of the NPP project. Among them are legislation, institutional framework, personnel training, nuclear safety, and emergency
preparedness.

The mission assessed the infrastructure development including such aspects as site selection, environmental safety, integration of the nuclear power plant into the Belarusian power grid, industry-wise participation in the project. The mission concluded that all these aspects are adequate for the start of the construction of the nuclear power plant. The IAEA representatives also praised the high qualifications of Belarusian experts involved in the nuclear power program.

In their summary the experts said that the progress made by Belarus at the first stage of the project shows a high degree of preparedness of the country for the launch of the NPP construction. The final report of the mission included 17 recommendations and 25 proposals regarding the further development of the infrastructure, improvement of nuclear energy legislation, strengthening of the role of the regulatory organization, establishing a system of technical support.
Other areas related to the nuclear power program were also examined.

In addition, the mission identified ten good practices that can be recommended for use in other states that have their own nuclear power programs. These are, according to the international experts, the creation of a special high-level interagency commission made up of representatives of all interested government bodies and organizations to consider the nuclear power program issues, the personnel training program adopted at an early stage, and also the experience in the field of radiation protection and environmental monitoring.

Among Top Newcomers

In October, Belarus welcomed the Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr Alexander Bychkov. The IAEA senior official held a number of high-level meetings to discuss the interaction in part of implementation of the IAEA recommendations, including the use of technical and advisory capacity of the IAEA while preparing the integrated plan.

During the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Mr Anatoly Tozik, Alexander Bychkov stressed that the IAEA stands ready to work with Belarus across all aspects related to the nuclear power program. The country has already done quite a lot of work on the nuclear power program using the IAEA standards, and today it can be called one of the advanced newcomer countries in this area, he stated.

The Deputy Head of the Belarusian government, Anatoly Tozik, in turn, praised the cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA as constructive, trust-worthy and responsible. The NPP project is of particular importance for the country. Given the Chernobyl factor, security issues and the highest requirements to the technology are an absolute priority for Belarus. The Belarusian side is grateful to the IAEA for the support and will continue to heed to all the recommendations of the Agency, said the Vice Premier.

Belarus has already embarked on the implementation of the recommendations received from the mission in June. The work will be done in line with a plan developed by the Energy Ministry in cooperation with the National Academy of Sciences and other government bodies, and approved by the government of Belarus.

The program of the IAEA autumn visit included a meeting with journalists at the BelTA’s press center and a visit to the construction site of the future nuclear power plant. Alexander Bychkov drew attention to intensive and quality work of constructors and contractors at the Ostrovets site and stated that the level of the future NPP infrastructure would meet the best world standards.
Executive officer for the IAEA technical cooperation project Mr Donald Kovacic who paid a visit to the Belarusian NPP site together with Alexander Bychkov noted that the competence of local authorities and the level of local industry is good enough for preparatory work.

Nuclear Security Above All

The NPP construction project is a priority but not the only area of cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA. The sides have been long cooperating in non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The IAEA conducts regular inspections in Belarus in line with the agreement between Belarus and the Agency on application of safeguards.

In 2011 Belarus and the IAEA coordinated an integrated nuclear security plan designed to prevent trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials, ensure physical security of the nuclear material in Belarus and train specialists in physical security of the Belarusian NPP.

Belarus also joined the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles aimed at achieving promising nuclear energy goals, sharing information and experience in new nuclear technologies.

The same importance in Belarus-IAEA cooperation is given to the efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. The UN Chernobyl Forum worked under the aegis of the IAEA in 2003-2005. Partaking in the project were the worst hit regions in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine as well as a number of international organizations within the UN system.

Experts named social and economic recovery of the affected territories of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine as long-term goals. The parties confirmed the intention to continue location-specific research and monitoring of the long-term environmental, health and social impact of the Chernobyl accident, secure preservation of the knowledge gained during the Chernobyl mitigation efforts. The regional Chernobyl project (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine) as part of the IAEA technical cooperation program pursues the same goal.

Today Belarus cooperates with the agency across a wide range of areas related to nuclear energy. Close cooperation is based on a strong legal framework. Belarus is a party to a number of IAEA conventions that include nuclear security, nuclear warning, assistance in nuclear accidents, safe handling of spent fuel and radioactive waste, physical protection of nuclear material.

Expert assistance provided to Belarus by the IAEA can be compared to a kind of a compass which serves as a guideline in the nuclear energy development. The dialogue between the two sides rests upon the principles of total openness, trust, and consistent expansion of cooperation.
Belarus regularly informs the IAEA about the progress in the construction of the nuclear power plant, welcomes the IAEA missions, and carefully implements the experts’ recommendations in the nuclear energy sector. Political contacts between the government of Belarus and the IAEA are increasingly vibrant. The parties maintain constructive cooperation, i.e. there are good reasons to assume that the principle of security which is a pillar of the Belarusian NPP construction project will be fully observed.