MINSK, 29 June (BelTA) – Belarus' national report on fulfilling the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was presented during the seventh review meeting of the contracting parties to the joint convention in the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry told BelTA.
The report contains information about the state policy in the sphere of management of spent fuel and radioactive waste in Belarus, practical measures on implementing the policy, including the formation of the relevant legal base, personnel training, systemic interaction with leading international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. It also contains data reflecting Belarus' fulfillment of recommendations given as a result of the presentation of the previous report.
During plenary sessions and the work of country groups in Vienna Belarus' progress was noted in forming the national policy on managing spent fuel and radioactive waste of the Belarusian nuclear power plant under construction, progress in integrating key tasks concerning the management of radioactive waste into program documents and industry-specific documents. Belarus' experience with regard to the already implemented practices and with regard to strategic planning was also met with interest.
The report was compiled by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) in association with the Energy Ministry and other interested government agencies.
The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was passed in 1997. Its goals include achieving and maintaining a high level of safety of management of spent fuel and radioactive waste worldwide through bolstering national measures and international cooperation. Belarus has been a party to the convention since 2003.
