MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) and the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor) will discuss possibilities for jointly responding to off-nominal situations at nuclear power plants. The information was released by Gosatomnadzor Head Olga Lugovskaya on the sidelines of the 60th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on 27 September, BelTA has learned.
According to the source, consultations with Rostechnadzor representatives are scheduled to take place in a day or two. A program of the Union State of Belarus and Russia is in development to beef up regulatory systems, develop regulatory requirements, and address responses to emergencies. “The probability of off-nominal situations is extremely low, yet it is necessary to always be ready. These matters will be discussed with Rostechnadzor,” said Olga Lugovskaya.
Russian colleagues help the Belarusian nuclear industry watchdog exercise oversight functions at the enterprises that make equipment for the Belarusian nuclear power plant and at the construction site itself. Details of this interaction will be in the center of attention during the forthcoming meeting, too.
Apart from that, Gosatomnadzor representatives are expected to meet with representatives of regulatory bodies of Slovakia and Turkey on the IAEA platform.
BelTA reported earlier that the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) signed a memorandum on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy on the sidelines of the 60th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
