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MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – International experts are interested in studying the experience of construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The statement was made by Marina Nizamska, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) mission, as she met with Belarusian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Vashchenko and representatives of Belarusian government agencies on 8 October, BelTA has learned.

The head of the mission said: “The purpose of the IAEA mission is to evaluate your readiness to respond to nuclear and environmental emergencies. The team includes representatives of various countries. We have our own national experience, good knowledge of international recommendations. We would like to share our knowledge with you. Certainly, we are also interested in learning from you because the process is bilateral and mutual. We would be pleased to work here with you and to get a lot from you.”

In turn, Belarusian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Vashchenko noted that Belarus is interested in the opinion of IAEA EPREV mission experts. “I am convinced that conclusions of the IAEA mission will be useful for us. We will certainly abide by them and will fulfill all recommendations of international experts,” he emphasized.

The Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will stay in Belarus through 20 October. Over the course of nearly two weeks the experts are expected to visit the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor), the Safe Industrial Practices Department of the Emergencies Ministry (Gospromnadzor), several other organizations of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the Energy Ministry, the national center for hydrometeorology, radioactive pollution control, and environmental monitoring (Belgidromet), and other organizations.

The IAEA offers accident readiness review services to member states upon request for the sake of evaluating their readiness for nuclear or radiation emergencies. An EPREV mission helps bolster the national potential for responding to emergencies in line with IAEA safety standards.