Two monitoring systems keep eye on radiation levels near Belarusian nuclear power plant
MINSK, 4 January (BelTA) – Two monitoring systems keep an eye on radiation levels in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA learned from a video interview of Maria Germenchuk, Deputy Director of the International Sakharov Environmental Institute of the Belarusian State University. The interview is available on the website of the National Press Center.
Maria Germenchuk noted that a multilayer protection system had been created in anticipation of the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The first layer provides for nuclear safety of the nuclear power plant itself. The second one takes care of radiation safety at the industrial site. The third one focuses on monitoring radiation levels. The state enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and the national weather service take care of that task. The national weather service sees any changes right away.
The radiation monitoring systems of the National Center for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Pollution Control, and Environmental Monitoring (Belhydromet) and the Belarusian nuclear power plant work independently of each other. The nuclear power plant is supposed to evaluate the potential environmental impact of the power plant and make sure it stays below design levels. This is why the nuclear power plant has arranged its own radiation monitoring system. The system monitors atmospheric air, surface water and soils. In turn, Belhydromet has deployed three independent posts to monitor gamma radiation in real time in the observation area (12.9km away from the Belarusian nuclear power plant). Specialized equipment is available to determine the presence of fresh fission products, primarily iodine-131, in real time.
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.