Safe development of nuclear power engineering and the non-proliferation regime are guarantees of the mankind’s future
Belarus ready to share nuclear power plant construction experience with Kazakhstan
Belarus is ready to share its experience of building a nuclear power plant with colleagues from Kazakhstan. The statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during the press briefing held in BelTA’s press center on 27 August to discuss the safe development of nuclear power engineering and the non-proliferation regime as guarantees of the mankind’s future.
During the event Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Yergali Bulegenov noted that Kazakhstan had been considering the idea of building a nuclear power plant of its own for quite a long period of time. In 2014 Kazakh specialists visited the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister said: “We told them everything in detail. When Kazakhstan makes the decision [to build a nuclear power plant of its own], we will be ready to share everything we have learned. I think this interaction will only make us richer with regard to knowledge and the implementation of such large-scale projects.”
Belarus’ project to build a nuclear power plant is in its practical phase. “Many countries take a live interest in our experience, because Rosatom, which is the general contractor, praises the successful organization of the work both during the preparatory period and the construction period,” noted the official.
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). 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.
Mikhadyuk: BelNPP construction schedule unaffected by macroeconomic situation in Russia
The macroeconomic situation in Russia has not affected the BelNPP construction schedule and its financing, Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadiuk told a briefing “Safe development of nuclear energy and non-proliferation regime – the guarantees the future of mankind” in BelTA’s press center.
All the organizations involved in the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are paid in Russian rubles, which is compliance with the relevant document.
"Indeed, the macroeconomic processes that we witnessed at the end of last year did affect the purchasing power of the Russian ruble. We addressed these issues in a prompt way, and adopted the appropriate measures, which allowed us to continue the construction of the nuclear plant in accordance with the schedule approved by the contract,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
The purchase and delivery of equipment is on schedule, he said. "There have been no problems with the financing to pay for the works performed," said the Deputy Minister.
The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built using the AES-2006 design. The plant will be located 18km away from the town of Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast. The BelNPP 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. The first power-generating unit of the nuclear power plant is scheduled for launch in 2018, the second one in 2020.
Ambassador: IAEA LEU Bank will be safe and secure in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan will ensure the safety and security of the international low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel bank. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Yergali Bulegenov made the statement during a briefing on the safe development of nuclear energy and the nuclear non-proliferation regime held in BelTA's press center on 27 August.
“We have almost five years’ experience of working with nuclear materials and ensuring their safety and security. We know how to store and transport them. Kazakhstan meets all relevant international standards, and the IAEA helps our country develop these areas. This is why, no doubt, it was the right decision to choose this location for the bank (IAEA LEU Bank – BelTA’s note),” Yergali Bulegenov noted. He also stressed that the political situation in Kazakhstan is stable. The social and economic situation has been consistently improving since Kazakhstan became an independent state.
In his words, Kazakhstani law enforcement agencies take sufficient measures to prevent terrorist attacks.
He also noted that Kazakhstan satisfies all the requirements of the IAEA. “In general, the level of anti-terrorist protection in our country is high, same as, I am sure, in Belarus,” Yergali Bulegenov said.
The agreement to build the IAEA LEU Bank on the territory of Kazakhstan was singed between the Kazakhstani government and the IAEA on 27 August during the visit of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to Astana.
CIS commission on peaceful atom to sit in Kazakhstan in November
The next meeting of the CIS commission on the peaceful use of atomic energy will take place in November 2015, Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during a briefing hosted by BelTA on 27 August to discuss the safe development of nuclear energy and non-proliferation regime.
“The next meeting of the commission is due to take place in Ust Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan at the company where a bank of low-enriched uranium will be created. This event will take place in November 2015,” the deputy minister said.
The CIS commission on the peaceful use of atomic energy was founded in January 1997 following the decision of the CIS Heads of Government Council. The commission is an intergovernmental coordinating and consultative body in the CIS. The commission coordinates the efforts of the CIS member states for elaborating concerted decisions on the issues of multilateral cooperation in the development of nuclear power. The commission comprises representatives of eight states, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.
The commission is currently chaired by Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
Russia named main supplier of nuclear fuel for Belarusian nuclear power plant
The Russian nuclear power engineering corporation Rosatom will be the main supplier of nuclear fuel to the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The statement was made by Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk during the press briefing held in BelTA’s press center on 27 August to discuss the safe development of nuclear power engineering and the non-proliferation regime as guarantees of the mankind’s future.
Mikhail Mikhadyuk said: “Belarus and Russia have signed an intergovernmental agreement on building the Belarusian nuclear power plant. In accordance with the document Rosatom is ready to supply nuclear fuel to us. We are now working on the relevant draft contract.”
In his words, the International Bank of Low Enriched Uranium represents an alternative supplier of this nuclear fuel component for any nuclear power plant in the world. “When a country cannot buy enriched uranium, which is one of the components used to make nuclear fuel, on the market due to force-majeure events, the country will be able to use this bank,” explained the Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister.
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). 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.
Ambassador: Belarus-Kazakhstan relations at highest level in history
The cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan has reached its highest level ever, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Yergali Bulegenov told journalists on 27 August, BelTA has learned.
“Belarusian and Kazakhstani authorities have developed full mutual understanding. Belarus is open to Kazakhstan in many areas, including nuclear power engineering, just in the same way as Kazakhstan is open to Belarus,” the diplomat stressed.
“Naturally, Belarus’ experience in the construction of the nuclear power plant is interesting and important for Kazakhstan. The possibility of constructing a nuclear power plant in our country has been actively discussed since long ago. It is also very important that Belarus and Kazakhstan are partners within the Eurasian Economic Union. The countries have developed all-round cooperation,” Yergali Bulegenov added.
The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets. The BelNPP will have two power-generating units with the total output capacity of up to 2,400MW (2x1,200MW). The Russian merged company AO NIAEP – ZAO ASE is the general designer and the general contractor of the project.
Belarusian nuclear power plant’s training center to open soon
The training and education center of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will be commissioned soon, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk on 27 August.
The official said: “The relevant simulators are being installed right now. A full-scale model of the reactor control desk will be available as well.”
In his words, Belarus pays close attention to training the personnel that will man the future nuclear power plant. “We understand the responsibility. We recognize the fact that hardware is nothing without people,” noted Mikhail Mikhadyuk. “In the training center Belarusian specialists will be coached by experienced nuclear energy industry professionals until the Belarusian nuclear power plant goes online. The simulators that are being installed are complete replicas of the workstations that the Belarusian nuclear power plant personnel will have to work with. The hardware will be used to polish all the necessary skills. All kinds of emergencies will be simulated among other things.”
The Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister explained that the Belarusian program to train nuclear industry personnel comprises several components. First, specialists are trained in Belarusian universities. Four universities offer training in six professions. Over 800 people have been trained so far. Some of them are employed in the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry while some are employed at other power plants. They will get valuable experience since many technological processes at nuclear and heat power plants are similar, noted Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
The second component is retraining programs for specialists with hands-on experience of operating power plants. They are sent for training and on-the-job training to specialized centers and nuclear power plants outside Belarus.
Apart from that, Belarus hires foreign specialists with a long track record of operating nuclear power plants. “We have compiled a list of positions and specialists that will man the key workstations when our power plant in Ostrovets District goes online. There are about 70 specialists of the kind. Trained Belarusian specialists will work next to them for the sake of getting the relevant invaluable experience,” added Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
The official underlined that making the future Belarusian nuclear power plant safe and secure is a multiple-vector task. “The AES-2006 design used to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant is state of the art. It is a reference design. It combines an optimal number of active and passive safeguards that will secure the power plant’s reliable operation,” stated the Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister.