The Minister informed the IAEA Director General about the activity at BelNPP, noting that the plant's safety and openness remain unconditional priorities for Belarus at all stages of the project.
Belarus has conducted all IAEA missions recommended for countries building their first nuclear power plant. The received recommendations and proposals were put into national action plans, which are an important guideline in the implementation of the national nuclear power program.
Viktor Karankevich thanked the IAEA for assistance in the development of nuclear energy and nuclear safety infrastructure in Belarus - the Agency's technical assistance, assessment and advisory missions. By the end of the year, Belarus is expected to receive two repeat IAEA missions to assess the progress achieved in the development of regulatory infrastructure and operational safety.
The head of the Ministry of Energy also informed that in early September the expert group of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) visited Belarusian NPP as part of the peer review of the National Action Plan following the results of NPP stress tests. The experts noted significant progress in the implementation of the recommendations from the stress tests and the implementation of the national plan formed on their basis.
During the meeting with Rafael Grossi, they also discussed the draft of a new framework program for cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA for 2022-2027, which is now being prepared.
The Minister invited the Director General of the IAEA to take part in the ceremony of commissioning the entire body of Belarusian NPP, which will take place in 2022. “We invite you to visit our country and take part in this significant event for us,” he said.
In his turn, Rafael Grossi noted the openness of Belarus for cooperation with international organizations, including the IAEA. He recalled that the IAEA as a technical expert organization does not see any reason why Belarusian NPP could not be put into operation. Grossi also gave assurances that the Agency will continue to support this project.
