Belarus looks to set up center of additive technologies with Rosatom

MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – Belarus plans to set up a center of additive technologies together with Russia's Rosatom, Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during the public hearings held ahead of granting the license to operate the second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA has learned.

“Cooperation between Belarus and Rosatom does not end with the commissioning of BelNPP. Today, at the initiative of the state corporation with the support of the government and the head of state, we are working on two areas to expand cooperation. The first one concerns the nuclear power plant: repair and maintenance services for the entire period of operation, fuel supply, management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, extension of NPP service, involvement of Belarusian specialists in the construction of nuclear power plants in Russia and the world under Russian projects, scientific support, and personnel,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.

Secondly, Belarus is working a document on long-term cooperation with Rosatom in other areas. “This is cooperation in the application of nuclear technologies in economic sectors, research work together with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, including in nuclear medicine and production of medical equipment, digitalization, telecommunication systems, development and improvement of energy storage systems, agriculture, modernization of industrial enterprises in Belarus, together with the use of additive technologies and composite materials. The government has set a task to set up a center of additive technologies in Belarus in cooperation with Rosatom,” the deputy minister said.

Belarus is also considering the construction of its second nuclear power plant or the third power unit.