Reports about radiation leak from Belarusian nuclear power plant dismissed as false

MINSK, 30 May (BelTA) – Information about the release of radionuclides from the Belarusian nuclear power plant is false, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.

The Energy Ministry stressed: “Information released by Lithuanian web resources is false. In order to make sure of it, you can check the data of online monitoring of background radiation in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Anyone can check it on the nuclear power plant's website. The map clearly shows that the radiation situation remains normal, there are no spikes. It indicates that the Belarusian nuclear power plant operates safely and reliably.”

The Belarusian Energy Ministry stated that the nuclear power plant is operating as normal. The first unit is operating at designed output levels. The second unit continues raising the reactor's output as part of the commissioning process.

Radiation situation data are analyzed both at the site of the nuclear power plant and at radiation control posts in the observation area. Information about current levels of gamma radiation can also be found on information displays in these populated localities: Vornyany, Podoltsy, Rymdyuny, Goza, Chekhi, Markuny, Chernishki, Olkhovka, and Svir. The state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant regularly shares radiation measurement data with government agencies concerned.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant uses the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. It is an evolutionary nuclear power plant design with third-generation water-moderated reactors. Such designs boast improved technical and economic parameters. A combination of active and passive safeguards is their key feature.