BRASLAV, 28 November (BelTA) – The equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation has been measured in Braslav District at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border in the closest location to the Ignalina nuclear power plant where a fire in a building had broken out the other day, BelTA has learned.
“We’ve taken a measurement of the equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation using an MKS-AT1117M dosimeter-radiometer. The gamma radiation figures right now (10:00-11:00) make up 44 nanosieverts per hour (nSv/h), which is way below the background radiation levels that make up about 170 nSv/h across the republic,” BelTA learned from Aleksandr Klyaus, Deputy Chief of the Chemical and Radiation Protection Center of the Emergencies Ministry’s republican special operations unit Zubr.
In his words, a system is in place in the Republic of Belarus to measure radiation automatically. When off-nominal situations occur, a chemical and radiation control lab is dispatched to the site. The lab is fitted with a dosimeter-radiometer that can detect gamma, beta, and alpha radiation. The lab also has a mobile radiation scanning complex and a portable spectrum analyzer designed to determine the radionuclide composition, the activity of radionuclides.
Aleksandr Klyaus clarified that no negative consequences could have occurred because every installation has a sanitary protection zone.
BelTA reported earlier that at 16:37 on 25 November units of the Fire and Rescue Department under the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior received a report about a fire outbreak in a building in the territory of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, which is located 4km away from the state border of the Republic of Belarus.
Due to the incident specialists of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry constantly monitor the radiation situation in Braslav District, Vitebsk Oblast. No excessive background radiation has been registered on the Belarusian territory.
In line with the agreement between the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry and the Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) on prompt notification about nuclear accidents and on sharing information about nuclear installations and nuclear activities via established communication channels the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry has informed the Lithuanian side that it is ready to provide the necessary assistance with eliminating consequences of the incident. The Belarusian side has also requested information about the emergency at the nuclear power installation for the sake of implementing exhaustive safety measures.
The Lithuanian side has yet to send a response.
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