Gosatomnadzor keeps track of all BelNPP project milestones

The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) has ensured constant supervision of all key events in the Belarusian nuclear power plant construction, Leonid Rydlevsky, the first deputy head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department at the Emergencies Ministry, said during an online conference on the BelTA website.

"Gosatomnadzor’s inspectors are deployed on the BelNPP construction site to supervise all the key events in the construction," he said.

To organize the supervision process on an ongoing basis, in July 2013 Gosatomnadzor created the bureau for nuclear and radiation safety of nuclear facilities, which includes the office for supervision of nuclear and radiation safety at the NPP construction site. In 2013-2014, the bureau hired seven young professionals. However, they do not get an immediate pass to work as independent inspectors: first they are placed in training under special programs to improve theoretical and practical knowledge and receive an internship on a very intense schedule.

"In July 2014 we organized some events including two seminars in Minsk with Russian specialists and IAEA experts; a two-month for of two inspectors at the Bulgarian National Nuclear Regulatory Agency (BNRA), participation in the capacity of observers in the joint integrated inspection of Rostekhnadzor of Leningrad NPP-2 (an analogue of the Belarusian nuclear power plant)," said Leonid Rydlevsky.

In November, four inspectors will go to Voronezh to enhance their qualifications at the Novovoronezhskaya nuclear power plant. There they will get in-depth knowledge about Units No. 5 and No. 6 that are identical to the NPP in Belarus. By the end of the year a two-week seminar on regulatory control will be organized in Minsk for the young professionals of Gosatomnadzor with the support of the IAEA and the European Commission.

"Now we have seven inspectors to supervise the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The supervision activities also involve more than 20 specialists from other units of Gosatomnadzor. The state supervision is duly documented,” said Leonid Rydlevsky.