Belarus, Poland discuss nuclear, radiation security issues

MINSK, 17 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Poland discussed the issues related to nuclear and radiation security, BelTA learnt from the office of communications and public relations of the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Security (Gosatomnadzor).

The visit of the Belarusian delegation to Poland was organized as part of the Belarus-Poland governmental agreement on early notification of nuclear accidents and cooperation in radiation security. The Belarusian delegation was led by Gosatomnadzor First Deputy Head Sergei Drobot. The parties exchanged information of a number of issues related to nuclear and radiation security.

The main issues discussed by the Gosatomnadzor included the control over the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the preparation of documents to issue the license to use the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the control over the facilities using ionizing radiation, the development of organizational and personnel resources of the Belarusian regulating authorities in the area of nuclear and radiation security.

In turn, specialists of the State Nuclear Power Agency of Poland told their Belarusian counterparts on the preparation of a conclusion to license the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Poland, the security evaluation of the research reactor Maria, the activity on radiation protection of ionizing radiation sources, the development of the integrated system of management and human resources.

During the visit the Belarusian delegation also got familiar with the operation of the national storage of radioactive waste Rozan.

The Belarus-Poland intergovernmental agreement on early notification of nuclear accidents and cooperation in radiation security was signed in 1994. The work on the agreement has been intensified after the two countries decided on the implementation of nuclear power systems.

The regulating bodies in nuclear and radiation security of Belarus and Poland cooperate both on the bilateral basis and in a multilateral format at the IAEA, the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA), the Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF).