Belarus’ nuclear watchdog to supervise BelNPP project on site

A branch of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department will start operating on the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) at the end of 2015, Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department under the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) Olga Lugovskaya said at a press conference at the BelTA press center on 21 April.

“The creation of the necessary working conditions on the construction site is under discussion. I think we will send one permanent representative there by the end of the summer. The entire branch will become operational by the end of the next year,” she said.

Olga Lugovskaya noted that the first group of specialists to be deployed at the Ostrovets construction site had already been formed. “These are young specialists; they should learn to perform supervisory functions,” the Gosatomnadzor chief said.

The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department (Gosatomnadzor) is a structural subdivision of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry having the rights of a legal entity. It was set up in 2007 to regulate matters of nuclear and radiation safety with a view to implementing the Belarusian domestic nuclear energy project.