The nuclear power plant information center in Ostrovets helps fill gaps in knowledge about nuclear energy. The opinion was voiced by European Commission Deputy Director General for Energy Gerassimos Thomas as he visited the information center on 20 September, BelTA learned from representatives of the state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.
A European Commission delegation led by Gerassimos Thomas went on a tour of the information center. Members of the delegation were interested in matters relating to safety, personnel training, radioactive waste handling, and storage of fresh and spent nuclear fuel. “Ostrovets really needs a nuclear power plant information center. Fear of nuclear energy is generated by lack of information while the center can help fill gaps in knowledge about nuclear energy,” noted Gerassimos Thomas.
Representatives of the European Commission were informed about the changes that had happened in the town and the district since the nuclear power plant construction project was launched. Members of the delegation watched a short film and went on a tour of the town. Later on they visited the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.
At the construction site representatives of the European Commission were made familiar with progress of the project. Members of the delegation were informed about the safeguards implemented into the design of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Members of the delegation looked at the construction site from the observation platform and went on a tour of the turbine hall and the reactor hall.
The education and training center of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was the final destination as part of the tour. Members of the European Commission delegation were made familiar with how personnel are trained and learned about the methods and the hardware used in the process. They were also present during a class, during which one shift of the future nuclear power plant personnel practiced responding to an emergency — the shutoff of the main circulating pump.