Conclusion on Belarusian nuclear power plant's first unit's operating license in works

MINSK, 30 April (BelTA) – The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) is preparing the conclusion on granting the license to operate the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Gosatomnadzor Head Olga Lugovskaya made the statement during public hearings on granting the license to operate the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 30 April, BelTA has learned.

Important components of the Belarusian nuclear power plant's licensing process include an expert evaluation of safety parameters, evaluation of conformance with requirements, an inspection of the readiness of the operating company to do its job. The expert evaluation of safety was performed by the nuclear and energy institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. “We are now preparing the final conclusion in order to decide on granting the license or not at a session of the Emergencies Ministry board,” Olga Lugovskaya said.

The official stressed that safety levels of systems and equipment of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant meet requirements of normative legal documents while the unit itself meets the specified safety levels. “Factors that prohibit its operation have not been found. Radiation safety of the facility has been secured. Solutions meet Belarusian legislation. The readiness of the technological equipment of the unit, systems crucial to nuclear and radiation safety, and the premises where these systems are located has been secured as well. The readiness of the operating personnel and the management of the Belarusian nuclear power plant has been checked. Their ability to meet requirements, which were specified for the sake of safe operation, has been evaluated,” the Gosatomnadzor head said.

Public hearings took place on 30 April before the license to operate the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is issued. The public hearings proceeded in a hybrid mode. Several studios were connected by videoconference technologies. The purpose of the public hearings was to notify the general public about progress and results of an expert evaluation of safety and conformance of the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant with license requirements and terms as the Emergencies Ministry works to grant the license to operate the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.