IAEA mission issues seven general recommendations after visiting Belarusian nuclear power plant

MINSK, 4 March (BelTA) – After visiting the Belarusian nuclear power plant an IAEA mission issued seven general recommendations. Deputy Director General, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Energy Department Mikhail Chudakov made the statement as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Chudakov visited the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 2 March. He had also visited the place several years before that. “I see great progress. The first unit of the nuclear power plant is virtually ready for launch. It is in good state, which is confirmed by our infrastructure review mission, which has issued seven general recommendations concerning the country and pointed out five positive practices other countries could borrow,” the IAEA deputy director general said.

Mikhail Chudakov thanked the Belarusian side for constructive cooperation with the IAEA, which will continue through all stages of the nuclear power plant's operation and will cover other areas of use of nuclear technologies in Belarus. “The country actively cooperates and works in all areas with the IAEA. We refer to our relations with Belarus as an example for others to follow,” he noted.

IAEA missions are not mandatory. Countries are free to invite IAEA experts or not. “Belarus invites all the inspections concerning nuclear energy industry at all stages of construction of the nuclear power plant. We are grateful for it,” Mikhail Chudakov stressed.

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. Rosatom's engineering division – ASE Company – is the general contractor. The first unit is supposed to go online in 2020, with the second one scheduled for launch in 2021.