30 years of establishment and development of the Belarusian regulatory authority in the field of nuclear and radiation safety
Prior to the independence of the Republic of Belarus, the Interregional Inspectorate for Nuclear and Radiation Safety was in charge of nuclear regulatory issues. In 2001, on the basis of the abovementioned Inspectorate and Section of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Regulation, Division for Supervision and Regulation of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Department for Supervision of Safe Work in Industry and Nuclear Power Industry (Promatomnadzor) was established.
This regulatory body carried out its activities until 2007, when a decision to construct a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Belarus was made.
In 2007, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 565 dated November 12, 2007 “On Some Measures for the Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant”, the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor) was formed within the system of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus.
Due to the previous years of Promatomnadzor experience, the basis for the current activities of Gosatomnadzor in the field of radiation safety control was developed. At the same time, nuclear safety infrastructure began to emerge after the decision to construct the first NPP in the Republic of Belarus was made.
Structure of the regulatory authority and policy of supervisory activities in the field of nuclear and radiation safety were formed on the basis of the adopted laws of the Republic of Belarus and the issued decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
As the construction of the Belarusian NPP progressed, headcount of the Department continued to increase. In 2017, in order to provide technical support and fulfill the Order of the President, the State Scientific and Technical Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (CNRS) was established. In 2022, within the structure of Gosatomnadzor the Division of Radioactive Waste Management was formed. Due to the abolishment of the Department for the Elimination of the Consequences of the Chernobyl NPP Accident, some of the functions related to nuclear legacy issues were also assigned to Gosatomnadzor.
Highly qualified staff is essential to accomplish the Department's objectives. Within the framework of the State Program “Education and Youth Policy” Gosatomnadzor is involved in the implementation of Subprogram 8 “Personnel Training for Nuclear Power Industry”. Currently, Gosatomnadzor and CNRS employ specialists in physics (including nuclear physics), chemistry, mathematics, ecology, various engineering disciplines, international relations, legal studies and the field of emergency response. Eight employees hold advanced degrees.
Throughout the short term of its activity, Gosatomnadzor has managed to gain credibility among foreign peers. The Department actively cooperates with structures involved in the use of nuclear energy and supervisory bodies of the Russian Federation, regularly participates in events held under the auspices of the IAEA.