Belarusian nuclear power plant officials get permits to work with nuclear energy

A number of executives of the Belarusian nuclear power plant have received permits to do work involving the use of nuclear energy, representatives of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) told BelTA.

The permits have been granted to the nuclear power plant’s director general, three deputy chief engineers (in charge of operation, safety and reliability, repairs), the security service chief, and the chief of the nuclear power plant centralized repair department.

The officials had to meet certain criteria in order to get the permits. In particular, their knowledge has been evaluated by a commission of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry. Medics have confirmed they have no medical contraindications. The officials also had to go through a psychophysiological inspection.

Such permits can be issued in line with Belarusian legislation. Such permits are required to run a nuclear power plant operating enterprise, oversee technical processes at a facility, which uses nuclear energy, keep records of and manage nuclear materials, work with radioactive waste, and other activities.

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. The first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, with the second one to go online in 2020.