Belarusian nuclear power plant permitted to import nuclear fuel

MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – A permit has been issued for the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant to import fresh nuclear fuel, BelTA learned from representatives of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor).

The Emergencies Ministry has decided in favor of amending the nuclear energy use license of the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant. The amendment is focused on the handling of fresh nuclear fuel in the course of its storage and transportation.

The decision was prompted by conclusions of experts of Gosatomnadzor and the joint energy and nuclear research institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Apart from that, Gosatomnadzor evaluated the conformance of technical and organizational decisions made by the nuclear power plant operating company with requirements of regulatory acts in the area of nuclear and radiation safety and their sufficiency for handling nuclear fuel. The readiness of the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant for receiving fresh nuclear fuel was assessed.

In addition to the Emergencies Ministry's decision the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant received a permit from Gosatomnadzor for importing fresh nuclear fuel into Belarus.