Belarus developing permanent seismic monitoring system for nuclear power plant

MINSK, 22 July (BelTA) – A permanent network of seismic stations is being developed to monitor the situation in the vicinity of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA learned from the report on the state of nuclear and radiation safety of Belarus of 2019 that was published on the website of the Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Emergencies Ministry of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor).

At present seismic parameters in the area surrounding the Belarusian nuclear power plant are monitored by temporary stations (7 seismic stations of the local seismic network, including Vadatishki, Gradovshchizna, Boyary, Selishche, Vorobyi, Gornaya Kaimina and Litvyany). This local network operates 24/7 and provides uninterrupted registration of signals from natural and artificial sources of seismic vibrations.

Simultaneously, work is underway to develop a permanent local network of seismic stations to monitor the stability of geodynamic parameters in the vicinity of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. “This is a complex task that necessitates substantial research, as well as development, installation and commissioning of the network components. The first stage of the work is in full swing now. This stage will be completed in 2020,” the review reads. Permanent seismic stations will be located within a radius of 30 km from the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

The report on the state of nuclear and radiation safety of Belarus contains information on the main activities and developments in the field of regulation and provision of nuclear and radiation safety in Belarus in 2019. A substantial part of the report is dedicated to the safety of Belarusian nuclear power plant.

The document was prepared in cooperation with the Healthcare Ministry, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (National Center for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Contamination Control, and Environmental Monitoring), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Academy of Sciences (Joint Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny), structural subdivisions of the Emergencies Ministry.