MINSK, 3 March (BelTA) – Belarus intends to welcome seven assessment missions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before the first power-generating unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant goes online in 2018. Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk made the statement in an interview with the Lithuanian newspaper Lietuvos Rytas, BelTA has learned.
“We tightly cooperate with the IAEA and have already welcomed a number of assessment missions. I'd like to note that Belarus is one of the few countries that have enabled public access to the IAEA's report on evaluating the development of the nuclear energy infrastructure. This cooperation continues developing very vigorously. Before the first power-generating unit goes online we intend to welcome another seven assessment missions from the IAEA,” said Mikhail Mikhadyuk.
The next mission will arrive in October 2016 to evaluate the system of nuclear and radiation safety regulations.
The official also pointed out that the Belarusian side had done a favor to Lithuania and as a trust-building measure had asked the IAEA to send a mission to Belarus to evaluate the Site and External Events Design, the so-called SEED mission.
Apart from that the Belarusian nuclear power plant has become a member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). WANO will carry out partnership audits of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Work on stress testing the Belarusian nuclear power plant has begun.
“This is why when I hear statements by Lithuanian politicians, who say Belarus must take these or those actions, I get surprised. They don't have to demand anything since we go ahead with those actions on our own,” concluded the Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister.
