Timely implementation of Belarusian nuclear power plant project praised

As far as the ability to stay on schedule is concerned, the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant looks best of all. The opinion was voiced by Alexander Bychkov, who was the IAEA deputy director general until recently, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Bychkov underlined he had had only positive experience of interaction with Belarus as part of the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction project and shared several personal impressions. “We have arranged and carried out a mission to evaluate the infrastructure in Belarus. I was visiting the Ostrovets construction site when the first lot of concrete was being prepared for pouring. We spent a long time walking about the construction site but when I got back to my car, I found out that my shoes are clean. Such a feat is hard to achieve at a construction site,” he said.

On the whole, Alexander Bychkov said the project’s implementation was successful, particularly the fact that the project stays on schedule. “In Europe, particularly Western Europe construction projects that stay on schedule have been few and far between recently. Virtually all of them lag behind and encounter some problems. Bearing this in mind the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant looks best of all,” he said.

In his words, other countries can also learn from the Belarusian government’s approach to building the first nuclear power plant. “For many countries that embark on developing their nuclear energy industry it is very important to build a correct state vertical from the head of state or government to the lowest executive. It is very important for the first project because a nuclear power plant is a very complicated power engineering installation. In order to correctly build and ensure safe operation for 60-80 years you have to do everything just right at the very start. Belarus is a country that demonstrates the correct vertical of the project management,” he stressed.