The visit of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) experts to the Belarusian NPP took place in the framework of the Peer Review of the National Action Plan following the results of the stress tests of the Belarusian NPP

From February 9 to 10, 2021, experts from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), leaded by the Head of the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) Petteri Tiippana, hold a 2-day technical visit to the Belarusian NPP. The visit was organized as part of the Peer Review of the National Action Plan following the results of the stress tests of the Belarusian NPP (hereinafter – the National Action Plan).

For reference

Stress tests of the Belarusian NPP were carried out in 2016-2018. They included three stages: a self-assessment of the Belarusian NPP, a national assessment and a ENSREG Peer Review. The National Action Plan was formed taking into account the results of all three stages. In 2020, Belarus expressed its willingness to conduct ENSREG Peer Review of the National Action Plan. By the time of the visit, a number of Peer Review activities had already been completed. The National Action Plan was reviewed by the ENSREG experts, who formulated 150 questions to it. 95 questions were also received from Austria and Lithuania. The Belarusian side has prepared and sent detailed answers to ENSREG. A number of expert consultations took place virtually.

During the visit, the European experts were demonstrated the facilities, systems and equipment of the Belarusian NPP, which are important from the point of view of the NPP's resistance to external natural hazards and the implementation of the National Action Plan. The opportunity was given to study the relevant documentation, discuss the observations regarding the implementation of the National Action Plan and taking into account of the ENSREG recommendations with the representatives of Gosatomnadzor, State Enterprise “Belarusian NPP”, the design unit of JSC ASE EC, other interested parties.

Following the visit and previous events, the ENSREG experts will prepare a preliminary version of the Peer Review Report. In addition to the technical visit, it is also planned to conduct an ENSREG mission to Belarus for 1.5 weeks, tentatively in May-June 2021. Its dates will be determined additionally taking into account the improvement of the epidemiological situation. Upon completion of this mission, the final version of the ENSREG Report on the Peer Review of the National Action Plan will be prepared, a joint press release of Gosatomnadzor and ENSREG will be issued, and the presentation of the ENSREG Report to the media and the public will be organized.

For additional information, please, contact Gosatomnadzor consultant Mr. Oleg Sobolev, tel. (8-017) 272-02-86.