Public access to live Belarusian nuclear power plant promised

The Belarusian nuclear power plant will stay open for tours once it is commissioned. The statement was made by Eduard Svirid, Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, during the online conference hosted by the BelTA website on 1 December.

According to the source, access to nuclear power plants is restricted for safety and security reasons. “Unwanted elements, terrorists, ill-wishers and so on are barred from entering nuclear power plants. But it does not mean that members of the general public will get the same treatment. We now offer tours of the nuclear power plant and are going to continue doing so after the power plant is commissioned,” noted Eduard Svirid.

In his words, tours allow citizens to see for themselves that it is a cutting-edge world-level facility. “Otherwise, however hard we may try to raise the awareness of the general public, however hard we may explain that the power plant is safe, that everything is under control, people would say we are telling fairy-tales. They would imagine all kinds of things happening instead,” he explained. Eduard Svirid is convinced that one tour of the power plant is enough to see that things are safely organized over there.

“We are going to continue offering tours of the power plant. It is our principled stance and it is the stance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Showing how a nuclear power plant works is an international practice,” stated Eduard Svirid.

Asked about the possible organization of a live online feed of the Belarusian nuclear power plant’s operation, Eduard Svirid noted that there is nothing spectacular about the operation of a nuclear power plant. Apart from that, a live feed will not be possible due to security concerns. “Taking photos and making videos of live nuclear power plants is restricted. Sometimes personnel are forbidden to have mobile phones with cameras. It is a matter of security that needs to be understood and accepted. I think all of us are interested in it,” he summed up.