IAEA: Belarus takes the best from Soviet engineer training system

Belarus has managed to assimilate the best from the Soviet system of engineer training, IAEA Deputy Director General Alexander Bychkov told a press conference in the BelTA press center.

Alexander Bychkov positively assessed the prospects of nuclear energy in Belarus: “First, Belarus has managed to develop a good training system and preserved the best Soviet traditions in engineer training. Second, the country maintains close ties with Russia, which means an opportunity to arrange internships at nuclear stations in the Russian Federation”. He noted that Belarus has a very balanced nuclear energy development program.

The IAEA will continue collaborating with Belarus on the level of training programs, electronic education courses, exchange of knowledge and establishment of special-purpose schools.

IAEA: Production of nuclear energy to go up 25% by 2030 worldwide

By 2030, the production of nuclear energy is projected to increase by at least 25% throughout the world, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Alexander Bychkov told journalists.

Alexander Bychkov explained that the IAEA has conducted a special study on the further development of nuclear energy: “It is expected that the increase in electricity production by nuclear power plants, including construction, will increase by at least 25% by 2030, or even will double”. He also noted that before the Fukushima accident the estimates were approximately 12% higher. The events in Japan have impacted on the growth but not turned the world against nuclear power.

“Italy, Germany, Japan decided to give up on nuclear energy but we need to be aware that this is a very long process,” underscored Alexander Bychkov and added that, for example, Japan will begin to decommission its reactors only in the late 2020s. In addition, he noted that there are countries which cannot do without nuclear energy. According to the IAEA, the region where nuclear power will grow very rapidly includes China and East Asia. The average pace is expected in South Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria).

Speaking of the United States, he said: "The United States will most likely not give up on nuclear energy. Construction continues there too. But there will be a fairly massive decommissioning of old reactors. "

The IAEA official said that in general, according to the IAEA estimates, the nuclear power engineering will be developing throughout the world.

IAEA praises Belarus as ‘most advanced novice’

Belarus is one of the most advanced novices in power engineering, Alexander Bychkov, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told media in the BelTA press center on 5 October.

“Our organization very highly thinks about Belarus’ work to build its own nuclear station. In our opinion, Belarus is one of the most advanced novices in the power engineering industry,” he said.

According to Alexander Bychkov, the IAEA has 16 recommendations and 22 special proposals to improve the program of Belarus. “We recommend improving the legislation on radioactive waste and the treatment of this waste and irradiated fuel. We believe it can be done. We also believe that the legislation relating to nuclear damage can be improved. It is a rather specific area and, as a rule, it is well-polished only in the countries with a steady nuclear power engineering industry,” he explained. Apart from that, the IAEA suggests enhancing the regulatory body in personnel and legislative aspects. “Despite the well-developed personnel program some aspects have yet to be clarified. Additional measures have to be developed for pre-launch stages. We believe our recommendations should be used to put together an extra plan of work,” said Alexander Bychkov.

He underlined the importance of existing tight cooperation between the agency and Belarus. Several missions have already worked in Belarus in recent years, including missions on security, a mission relating to the choice of the nuclear station construction location. There are plans to arrange visits of other missions relating to security and the implementation of the entire project.

The IAEA Deputy Director General said that the mission of the organization is purely recommendatory. “We accumulate the experience of the countries with extensive nuclear programs and share it with those, which have just started on the road. Our task is to help peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We cannot directly interfere with government programs,” he said. “From the experience of recent years we can use the mechanism of soft indirect coordination. We can take part in mutual relations of the country that builds [a nuclear power plant] and the country that sells the project. If both sides agree, we invite top qualification experts to work on it,” remarked Alexander Bychkov. As a rule, all countries treat IAEA recommendations very seriously and are eager to fulfill them.

Belarus gainfully differs from other nuclear energy newcomers

Belarus has some advantages that other newcomers willing to develop nuclear power engineering do not have. Belarus is one of the most advanced newcomers, IAEA Deputy Director General Alexander Bychkov told the press conference in the BelTA press center on 5 October.

Preparing to build the nuclear power plant, Belarus used all the support mechanisms the IAEA offers. In his words, about seven years ago the republic started research to assess the energy strategy. The country started energy planning back then. An analysis of the nuclear energy system taking into account strategic trends was completed later.

The IAEA presented the summarizing report on Belarus’ infrastructure to build the first nuclear power plant at the meeting with Vice Premier of Belarus Anatoly Tozik on 5 October. The experts had analyzed the infrastructure of the Belarusian nuclear power plant by 19 basic aspects. The assessment was carried out by 12 IAEA specialists working in Belarus in July. Technical parameters were analyzed as well as legislation, the management system, personnel training, radiation protection and safety. “Some things have been uncovered that we recommend improving. At the same time we are trying to find the best practices for ourselves and the world,” said IAEA Deputy Director General Alexander Bychkov.

The IAEA is ready to work with Belarus in all the aspects relating to the nuclear energy program. As an organization accumulating knowledge in the area of nuclear power engineering the IAEA has several mechanisms to support new and existing nuclear programs. The organization has a large comprehensive package to support nuclear energy newcomers such as Belarus.

IAEA against potential threat label on Belarusian nuclear station

It is incorrect to view the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant as a potential threat of territory pollution, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Alexander Bychkov told media on 5 October.

Alexander Bychkov said: “If you treat the construction of the power plant like that, you should live a totally different life, you should stop using coal and other amenities”. He pointed out that according to the statistics collected during he operation of many modern stations their radioactive impact on the environment is, as a rule, less dangerous than the impact of coal-fired power plants. “It is a fact. By the way, radioactive impact on the personnel is lower than the impact during oil extraction. Therefore, it is not a good idea to view the construction of the nuclear power plant as a potential threat of territory pollution. It is incorrect,” stressed the IAEA Deputy Director General.

Alexander Bychkov reminded that two missions had visited Belarus already to examine nuclear power plant construction sites. The conclusions the two missions made are positive.

The IAEA Deputy Director General also pointed out that while working out recommendations concerning the construction of nuclear power plants, members of IAEA missions do not interfere in domestic tensions between the sides, which are in favor of and against the construction of the nuclear power plant. “We get quite many letters, however, I’d like to underline one important thing: we work only with government agencies of participating states”.

Alexander Bychkov remarked that the IAEA also works with participating countries for the sake of giving recommendations concerning the ways to explain advantages of nuclear power engineering to the population in layman’s terms and without conflicts. However, he underlined that this work is purely recommendatory. “It is not part of the 19 aspects the mission looks into. We examine legislative, engineering, and safety aspects. We don’t examine psychological aspects,” he concluded.

Belarus vows to fulfill all IAEA recommendations

All the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus will be fulfilled, Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk told media in the BelTA press center on 5 October.

“IAEA recommendations are not compulsory and a country may or may not fulfill them. Belarus fulfills all the recommendations and will continue doing so in the future because the recommendations mean safety,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.

The official explained that the IAEA had aided Belarus in all areas of cooperation. “Nuclear safety is not limited to the power plant technology. It is a huge complex of matters, including personnel, machines, the readiness of the national infrastructure and many other aspects,” he said.

Mikhail Mikhadyuk also said that after the mission the Energy Ministry in association with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and other government agencies will prepare a national action plan. Once approved by the Belarusian government, it will be used to work out a detailed work plan. It will take into account all the recommendations the present mission has given, he stressed.

The official thanked the IAEA administration for tight cooperation and the support Belarus has received as a novice in the business of nuclear power plant construction.