MINSK, 17 July (BelTA) – Belarus intends to join the incident reporting system for nuclear installations developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), BelTA learned from the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor).
As a nuclear energy novice country Belarus is intent on using various instruments as much as possible in order to get and use the experience of other countries for the sake of improving nuclear and radiation safety. This is why the country intends to embrace the IAEA-developed incident reporting system for nuclear installations (IRS), Gosatomnadzor representatives told BelTA.
A regional seminar took place in Belarus on 9-13 July to discuss the investigation of violations and explore the experience of operating the incident reporting system for nuclear installations. Representatives of 14 countries took part in the seminar, including Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Georgia, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Gosatomnadzor organized the seminar on the Belarusian side.
Participants of the seminar discussed matters of general nature (safety principles and requirements for recording the experience of operating nuclear installations, the history and reference information about the IRS, functions of national IRS coordinators) and matters of applied nature (selection of national incidents and problems for IRS reports, preparation and submission of IRS reports). Apart from theoretical studies IAEA representatives taught participants of the seminar how to use the system in practice.
It was not the first time Belarus had hosted a regional IAEA seminar. Belarus' cooperation with the IAEA in a broad range of matters relating to ensuring nuclear and radiation safety has been going on for many years. There are good prospects for future advancement within the framework of projects, programs, and individual events, noted Gosatomnadzor representatives.
The IAEA's Nuclear Power Plants - International Reporting System for Operating Experience (IRS) collects, systematizes, and analyzes accidents and incidents that happen at nuclear installations of IAEA member states. The main goal of the system is to improve the safe operation of nuclear installations worldwide. The goal is also served by providing timely and detailed information about lessons learned from operating and building nuclear power plants.
