IAEA seminar at premises of Belarusian nuclear power plant

A seminar involving experts and consultants of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) took place at premises of the enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant to discuss the development of competencies of the operating company at the third stage of the nuclear energy program, BelTA learned from representatives of the Public Relations Office of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.

The event took place on 14-16 October and was part of the IAEA’s international technical aid project meant to support the development of human resources and the infrastructure for the nuclear energy program in 2014-2016. The seminar gathered nuclear energy specialists from Russia, Hungary, and Czechia.

Specialists of the International Atomic Energy Agency were made familiar with the state of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, carried out an educational seminar for specialists of the Belarusian enterprise to cover the commissioning of the nuclear power plant as well as functions and competences of the operating company. The international experts noted that the action plan developed by the Republic of Belarus after the IAEA mission visited the country in 2012 had been fulfilled unwaveringly. From the point of view of IAEA representatives the seminar’s results were secured, which can be used as the foundation for establishing tighter and longer term relations with experienced operating companies, BelTA has been told.

IAEA experts and consultants also visited the construction site to be made familiar with the progress of construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near the town of Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. It will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The AES-2006 design, which is fully compliant with international norms and recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been chosen for building the power plant. The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project.

The construction of the first power-generating unit is scheduled to complete in 2018. The second one will be finished in 2020.