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IAEA to test emergency preparedness of BelNPP before its launch

29.09.2016
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will test the emergency preparedness of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) before its launch, Elena Buglova, Head of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center, said on 29 September, BelTA has learned.

“We offer Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) missions that evaluate the preparedness to respond to a radiation emergency. Belarus has already requested such a mission. We will be working on its preparation together,” Elena Buglova said. The mission is scheduled to be carried out in 2018.

EPREV missions are conducted by teams of IAEA representatives and international emergency preparedness and response experts. “They have a clear methodology that they follow during such missions, regardless of the host country. The experts are always guided by the safety standards developed and adopted by the IAEA,” Elena Buglova emphasized.

Belarus' cooperation with the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center is not limited to the EPREV mission. Belarusian specialists already undergo training at the center.   

The IAEA is currently busy developing an international integrated monitoring system based on the existing European system. The IAEA Incident and Emergency Center already has a mock-up model of the system, which is a map with the monitoring stations marked with green dots. The data obtained by the monitoring stations will be submitted to the IAEA. The agency hopes that all countries, including Belarus, will take an active part in this project.

The IAEA Incident and Emergency Center is the global focal point for emergency preparedness and response for nuclear and radiological safety. Elena Buglova explained that according to the IAEA’s internal plan, the agency has specialists for immediate response to emergency situations. The center holds full-scale exercises, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano regularly participates in them. In case of an emergency, the center will work in close cooperation with specialists of the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Tags: Belarusian NPPIAEANPPsafety