Extra precautions during construction, launch of Belarusian nuclear power plant

Special safety procedures determined by the government will be employed during the construction and commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The provision is stipulated by Belarus president decree No. 62 of 16 February 2015. The decree was published by the national legal information website on 19 February, BelTA has learned.

The document is designed to secure and maintain proper safety standards of the Belarusian nuclear power plant and to fulfill the obligations Belarus has accepted in accordance with the Convention on Nuclear Safety of 17 June 1994.

The decree specifies that oversight functions during the construction and commissioning of the nuclear power plant will be performed by government agencies, including the State Standardization Committee, the Department for Control and Oversight over Construction and its dedicated inspection, state metrological control bodies, the Healthcare Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the Emergencies Ministry (including the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department and the Safe Industrial Practices Department), and the Interior Ministry. The decree specifies areas of responsibility for all the agencies in detail.

In accordance with the decree the Emergencies Ministry will be in charge of coordinating efforts of the control agencies to ensure safety during the creation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

In accordance with the document by 1 March 2015 the government will have to pass an executive order on oversight organization and implementation during the construction and commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. This clause comes into force as of the document’s publication date while the other ones will come into force as of 1 March 2015.