Belarus’ Emergencies Ministry, Rostechnadzor to ink cooperation agreement soon

The Belarusian Emergencies Ministry and the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor) will sign a cooperation agreement before long, Olga Lugovskaya, Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department (Gosatomnadzor) under the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry, told mass media at the briefing held on 17 December to discuss the role of expert assessment, licensing and supervision in nuclear and radiation safety, BelTA has learnt.

“We are engaged in very close cooperation with our Russian colleagues from Rostechnadzor. This week an interagency agreement will be signed between this body and the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry. It governs information exchange in order to ensure nuclear and radiation safety,” Olga Lugovskaya said. According to her, the Belarusian side will not have any problems obtaining information on all points of interest.

Olga Lugovskaya said that the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department acts strictly in line with the IAEA requirements. “That is why we closely cooperate with representatives of international organizations when implementing projects in our country. These are technical assistance projects under the aegis of the IAEA and the EU aimed at adding competence to and increasing capabilities of Gosatomnadzor in ensuring and assessing safety,” she underlined.

Olga Lugovskaya added that work is underway to set up a subdivision of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department which will be located at the site of the Belarusian NPP. “We are beginning to set up the subdivision, are currently busy hiring people, most of whom are young specialists. Of course, the department is also staffed by workers with significant experience but we focus on young specialists who graduate from corresponding Belarusian universities. Beginning from next year they will work and attend courses at our department in order to improve their qualifications,” stressed Olga Lugovskaya.