Belarus invites IAEA's nuclear security mission

MINSK, 4 March (BelTA) – Belarus has invited an International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit the country. Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk made the statement during the media briefing held on 4 March to highlight results of the IAEA's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR 3) mission, BelTA has learned.

The official said: “We've voluntarily decided to invite an [IPPAS] mission. These matters and some other aspects were preliminarily discussed during the current INIR 3 mission.”

In his words, Belarus intends to continue working with the IAEA in the course of implementing the national nuclear energy program. “As for future cooperation, we don't reject and are not going to reject any tools offered by the IAEA. Because the agency has accumulated the essence of all the world knowledge in the area of nuclear energy, it is very important for us,” the deputy energy minister stressed.

Deputy Director General, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Energy Department Mikhail Chudakov confirmed the Belarusian side had sent the relevant letter concerning the next mission to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. The mission to Belarus will be added to the IAEA's plan of activities for 2021.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using a Russian design featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. Rosatom's engineering division – ASE Company – is the general contractor. The first unit is supposed to go online in 2020, with the second one scheduled for launch in 2021.