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IAEA mission welcomes clear system of nuclear safety in Belarus

Xinhua, October 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) welcomed the safety system of a nuclear power plant being constructed in Belarus, IAEA's mission head Petteri Tiippana told local media on Friday.

Belarus has developed a clear system of work in the field of ensuring nuclear and radiation safety and IAEA can recommend other countries to use positive Belarus experience while constructing nuclear power plants.

The experts welcomed GosAtomNadzor's transformation in the development of nuclear energy programs and the country's commitment to the unconditional fulfillment of international obligations.

IAEA's specialists also developed more than 40 recommendations and suggestions for the improvement of the regulatory framework, supervision and licensing procedures, development of the system regulator's technical support, he said.

Petteri Tiippana noted that the regulations need to be updated and modified to let the regulatory body and the operating company be ready to respond to difficult situations.

A mission for the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) worked in Belarus on October 2-14. The experts checked the regulatory infrastructure in the field of nuclear and radiation safety at the NPP.

Belarusian NPP is being built in Grodno region on the Russian project. It will consist of two units of 1,200 MW each.

Lithuania, a close neighbor to Belarus, is the most outspoken critic of the future nuclear power plant, which is located just 20 kilometers from the Belarusian-Lithuanian border and 50 kilometers from the capital - Vilnius. Minsk does not accept Lithuania's claims, arguing that the plant is being built in compliance with all the necessary safety standards. Endit