Belarus interested in Finland’s experience of developing regulations for nuclear power plants

Belarus is interested in Finland’s experience regarding the development of regulatory documents for nuclear power plants, BelTA learned from Olga Lugovskaya, Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department (Gosatomnadzor) of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry, during the press conference held in BelTA’s press center on 17 June to highlight the international and domestic evaluation of nuclear and radiation safety in Belarus.

“Representatives of nuclear and radiation safety regulating agencies of Finland, Sweden and Norway visited Belarus in May. These countries have good regulatory systems. Apart from that, two of the countries — Finland and Sweden — operate nuclear power plants. We are interested in their experience. In particular, Finland boasts extensive experience of the development of regulatory documents and requirements,” explained the official.

Olga Lugovskaya reminded that Finland had decided to build a new nuclear power plant using the AES-2006 design. “The same design is used to build the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets, this is why it is very important for them and us to establish cooperation,” she stressed.

BelTA reported earlier that Belarus, Norway, Finland, and Sweden have stated their intention to sign a memorandum of understanding between nuclear and radiation safety regulating agencies. The idea was discussed when representatives of nuclear and radiation safety regulating agencies of Finland, Sweden and Norway visited Belarus on 27-29 May. The visit focused on preparedness for emergencies and responses to nuclear and radioactive emergencies. While in Belarus specialists from Norway, Finland, and Sweden met with representatives of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry. The Belarusian and foreign specialists exchanged experience and discussed preparedness for emergencies and responses to nuclear and radioactive emergencies. Members of the delegation were interested in Belarus’ experience of developing a radiation control and monitoring system in view of the construction of the nuclear power plant. The specialists also visited the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant near Ostrovets and the nuclear power plant’s information center.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is a project to build an AES-2006 type nuclear power plant 18km away from Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The Belarusian nuclear power plant will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company OAO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project. In line with the general contract for building the nuclear power plant the first power-generating unit is scheduled for commissioning in 2018, with the second one to go online in 2020.