Belarus and IAEA prepare draft framework for cooperation

MINSK (TASS): Belarus and the IAEA are preparing a draft framework for cooperation for 2022-2027. This was announced by the country’s Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich in an interview with BelTA on Wednesday following the participation of the Belarusian delegation in the meeting of the 65th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
“We really discussed not only the current state of affairs and the effectiveness of joint work, but also its prospects. The preparation of a draft framework program for cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA for 2022-2027 was touched upon,” Krankevich said. According to him, the Belarusian side is interested in the continuation of IAEA technical assistance projects both “in terms of strengthening the potential of the operating organization – BelNPP, and in the field of training personnel in nuclear safety regulation.”
In addition, Minsk counts on the IAEA’s technical assistance in implementing the strategy for radioactive waste management. “It is expected that joint work will continue in the field of monitoring the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant,” the minister said.
According to him, among the areas of interaction outlined in the draft program are the strengthening of the national radiation protection infrastructure, the creation of a nuclear security training center, the preparation of quality control and quality assurance programs in the field of radiology and radiation oncology. “All these issues are being worked out, and we hope that in the near future the work on agreeing the draft program will reach the final stage,” added Karankevich.
He recalled that the IAEA is assisting Belarus in resolving critical issues related to the implementation of the national nuclear energy program and the development of nuclear energy and nuclear safety infrastructure. In the period from 2012 to 2021, all the key IAEA missions recommended for countries building the first nuclear power plant were carried out in the republic. “Since the beginning of the implementation of the BelNPP construction project, our country has been systematically cooperating with leading international organizations in the field of nuclear and radiation safety,” the minister noted.
Belarus is completing the construction of a nuclear power plant according to the standard Russian project of a new generation “three plus” AES-2006. BelNPP will consist of two power units with a capacity of 1,200 MW each.