MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) – Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Andrei Khudyk has talked to BelTA about the readiness of the radiation monitoring service for the launch of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.
According to the source, an automated system to measure background radiation has been set up in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The system comprises ten automated stations designed to measure gamma radiation in addition to spectrometric sensors. Four of them are also equipped with weather sensors.
Apart from that, a system of observation posts has been set up in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. It is configured for operation at all stages of existence of the nuclear power plant: during normal operation, during shutdown due to reconstruction, due to disassembly or conservation of reactors, and during a possible radiation accident. Apart from that, gamma radiation is manually measured in the area, atmospheric air samples are taken, the radioactive pollution of surface waters and soil is under observation.
The National Center for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Contamination Control, and Environmental Monitoring (Belhydromet) uses a parallel chain of observation posts to measure background radiation in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in line with the contract with the general contractor – ASE Company. Every year about 700 samples of environmental objects are collected to measure background radionuclide content. Reports are prepared every six months. Once the work is done, Belhydromet will increase the number of observation posts in the area of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Andrei Khudyk said.
In his words, Belhydromet constantly improves methods of informing the nation about the radiation situation. Websites are used in addition to annual publications, bulletins, and mass media publications. For instance, the website rad.org.by offers up-to-date data about the radiation situation. The website nsmos.by offers radiation monitoring data collected in Belarus over years. A mobile app also offers information about the radiation situation.
