Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 31 May (BelTA) – Belarus honors all international commitments while building the nuclear power plant near Ostrovets. Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk made the statement during the plenary session of the Atomexpo forum in Moscow on 31 May, BelTA has learned.

The official stressed: “We set a high value on the open implementation of our project and honor all the international commitments in that regard.” The Deputy Energy Minister pointed out that Belarus closely cooperates with the IAEA. The agency is supposed to send seven missions before the first reactor goes operational. One of the missions will evaluate the power plant’s readiness for operation.

Representatives of mass media and specialists from the countries that plan to start developing a nuclear energy industry of their own or are already busy developing it, visit the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The Deputy Energy Minister noted that Belarus is ready to share its experience of starting a nuclear energy industry with any interested parties.

IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov pointed out that new reactors should be commissioned in a safe manner. New members of the “atomic club” should pay close attention to the matter. In his words, for the sake of ensuring reliable energy generation in the next 100 years it is necessary to lay down the relevant foundation. With this in mind the IAEA has a special team tasked with evaluating the readiness of a country to build nuclear installations. In order to implement nuclear projects, the country needs the necessary infrastructure, which is evaluated in 19 various aspects in three different areas. Matters concerning the safety and reliability of the nuclear power plant’s operation are taken into account as part of the evaluation process. Not only the nuclear energy infrastructure is evaluated but also the legal base, the clarity of procedures concerning the delivery of fuel, commissioning and decommissioning of nuclear installations, stressed Mikhail Chudakov.