Preparations to build research reactor in Belarus

The United Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has developed the technical specifications for the project to build a new research reactor in Belarus together with Russian colleagues. The information was released by Vyacheslav Kuvshinov, laboratory head of the Sosny Institute, at the AtomExpo Belarus forum in Minsk on 3 April, BelTA has learned.

According to the source, the research reactor the Institute built in the early 1960s was decommissioned in 1992.

Earlier Belarus quoted Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General for Development and International Business of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, as saying that Russian and Belarusian experts were negotiating the construction of a facility in Belarus that will have a research reactor. The reactor will be used for research and applied purposes such as nuclear medicine and the modification of materials.

“We hope that the negotiations will be successful and we will be able to build in Belarus not only the first nuclear power plant but the research center, too,” said Kirill Komarov.

The sixth international nuclear industry expo and conference AtomExpo Belarus 2014 is scheduled to take place in Minsk on 1-3 April. The Belarusian Telegraph Agency is an information partner of the forum.

AtomExpo Belarus participants have discussed future development of nuclear industry in the region, the implementation of the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the development of the Belarusian power grid, and safety regulations for the nuclear industry.

Experts remark that such forums represent an important component in cooperation between the state and the society during the construction of the nuclear power plant and testify to the information openness of Belarus regarding the implementation of the important project.