1.1.1 Energy Policy

1.1.2 Estimated Available Energy

1.1.3 Energy Statistics

1.2.1 Electricity Policy and Decision Making Process

1.2.2 Structure of Electric Power Sector

1.2.3 Main Indicators

The need to develop a nuclear power programme results from the following factors:

Scarcity of available fuel and energy resources;

• A significant share of natural gas in the fuel and energy balance;

• High expenditures for import of energy resources;

• Domination of one country supplier of fuel and energy resources;

• Difficulties in creating considerable reserves of natural gas.

On 17 September 2007, the President of the Republic of Belarus approved the Concept of Energy Security of the Republic of Belarus, which considers the introduction of a nuclear option into the national energy mix. The Concept assumes the construction of a nuclear power plant consisting of two reactors with total output electric capacity of 2000 MW before 2020.

On 31 January 2008, the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus made a decision to construct the nuclear power plant by commissioning the first 1000 MWe unit in 2016 and the second one in 2018.

On 30 July 2008, the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the use of atomic energy” was adopted. The Law sets up conditions and normative and legal bases for safe development of the nuclear energy sector, and for the use of nuclear technologies in various sectors of the national economy, as well as for conducting research activities.

A modern, enhanced security project based on serial NPP-2006 Generation 3+ with a WWER reactor of a unit power of 2 × 1194 MW was selected for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus, and underwent examination on 27 May 2013 (expert’s report of the Glavgosexpertiza of Russia No. 435-13 / GGE-8551/02 for the preliminary design).

In 6 September 2017, the competent authorities of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation for the construction of the nuclear power plant on the territory of the Republic of Belarus made a decision to extend the startup facility commissioning time of the Belarusian NPP Unit 1 from November 2018 to December 2019.

2.1.1 Overview

2.1.2 Current Organizational Chart(s)

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2.2.1 Status and Performance of Nuclear Power Plants

2.2.2 Plant Upgrading, Plant Life Management and Licence Renewals

The State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” is defined as a strategic partner in the development of the national nuclear power programme.

In accordance with the structure of the State Corporation for Atomic Energy “Rosatom”, the organization of construction for the Belarusian NPP is as follows:

The general designer is JSC “Nizhny Novgorod Engineering Company Atomenergoproekt” — the managing organization of JSC “Atomstroyexport” (JSC “NIAEP”).

• The scientific coordinator of NPP and reactor installation (RI) projects is SRC “Kurchatov Institute”.

• Holders of key technology elements:

• Chief designer of the reactor installation (RI); — JSC OKB “GIDROPRESS” (Podolsk);

• Turbogenerator installation — JSC “Power Machines” (St. Petersburg).

Responsible for the development of the project, design and detailed documentation:

• With regard to the main buildings and structures — JSC Atomproekt (St. Petersburg);

• With regard to the automated process control system — VNIIAES JSC (Moscow).

The partnership is carried out under the general contract with CJSC Atomstroyexport and the main documents were signed with Russia:

• 28 May 2009, the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the area of peaceful use of atomic energy;

• 15 March 2011, the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the nuclear power plant on the territory of the Republic of Belarus;

• 15 November 2011 the intergovernmental agreement to extend the Government of the Republic of Belarus a state export credit for construction of the nuclear power plant.

TABLE 4. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Station name	Type	Capacity	Construction date	Expected commercial year
	WWER	1110	08.12.2013	2019
	WWER	1110	27.04.2014	2020

In order to implement preparatory activities for nuclear power plant construction in the Republic of Belarus, the Inter-Agency Commission chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister was established. The Commission is comprised of representatives of the National Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Finances, Ministry of Energy, Ministry for Emergencies, Ministry of Natural Resources and Protection of the Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and several other governmental bodies and organizations. The Commission holds regular meetings to discuss various issues related to the development of the national nuclear power programme.

To perform the functions of a customer for the package of preparatory and design and planning work required to construct the NPP, the State Enterprise “Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction” was established. The Directorate is also responsible for coordination of the development of design and budget documentation for NPP construction, coordination of activities related to NPP construction and creation of the required infrastructure, information support, training of personnel, etc.

The Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety was established within the Ministry for Emergencies and was given responsibilities to exercise the state supervision over nuclear and radiation safety issues, and to ,monitor observation of the relevant legislation.

The Department of Nuclear Energy of the Ministry of Energy was established with the aim to implement the national policy in the area of nuclear energy sector development. The main functions of the Department include coordination of activities related to construction and operation of the NPP, development and monitoring of implementation of nuclear energy programmes, organization of activities aimed at ensuring nuclear safety, and information and communication activities.

Organizational Structure of the Project Management

Decree No. 583 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 December 2013, defines the state enterprise “Directorate for the Nuclear Power Plant Construction”, which through its reconstruction was reorganized into the Republican Unitary Enterprise “Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant” (hereinafter referred to as the Customer).

Annex 11, “Project Management”, regarding the General Contract on the construction of the Belarusian NPP No. 77-598 / 1110700 dated 18 July 2012 outlines the implementation of the project of the Belarusian NPP construction in the Republic of Belarus, where the General Contractor provides the Project Management.

Within the framework of the scheme “management — the function of the General Contractor”, the Customer devolves the functions of management to the General Contractor, retaining control of individual intermediate results. The General Contractor independently forms the organizational structure of the Project Management, allocates permanent resources and implements all functions for the Project Management, while engaging on a temporary basis subcontractors and their own units for the implementation of individual project work packages.

Allocation of Functions for Project Management Between the General Contractor’s Office and the General Contractor’s Branch on the Site

The central office of the General Contractor is responsible for:

Development and implementation of the methodology activity network;

• Development and support of level 1–3 construction schedules for NPP units (development of technological order and assignment of resources);

• Development and introduction of software under the tasks of activity network and course scheduling;

• Staff training in activity network;

• Methodological assistance to the branches for the development of the 4th level schedules.

The Branch of the General Contractor on the site is responsible for:

Schedules of the 4th level and the schedule of the 3rd level development;

• Distribution of 4th level schedules between subcontractors;

• Issuance and control of weekly and daily targets;

• Collection of actual data on the NPP construction schedule activity and updating of 4th level schedules;

• Reporting to the General Contractor’s office on work actually completed for updating the 3rd level schedules and normative database;

• Development and support of thematic plans for the construction of nuclear power plants.

Organization of Project Management Department of General Contractor’s Office

Figure 1 shows the organization of the project management department of the General Contractor’s office.

FIG. 1. Organization of the project management department of the General Contractor’s office.

Organization of Project Management Department of General Contractor’s Branch at the Site

Figure 2 shows the organization of the project management department of the General Contractor’s branch at the site.

FIG. 2. Organization of the project management department of the General Contractor’s branch at the site.

Control and Improvement of the Project Management System Operation

In order to control over the progress of the Belarusian NPP construction, the parties organize tripartite coordinative meetings at the site.

The parties participating in the tripartite coordination meetings at the site to monitor the progress of the Belarusian NPP construction are: the Customer, the General Contractor and the General Contractor’s branch at the site.

Coordination meetings should be held at least once every three months.

The main task of the coordination meetings should be control over the progress of work and decision making on identified problems, as well as to verify the implementation of decisions of previous meetings.

In order to improve the project management system, it is necessary to organize bilateral meetings at the nuclear power plant construction site.

The parties participating in the coordination meetings for the improvement of the project management system are: General Contractor and General Contractor’s branch on the site.

The main tasks of coordination meetings on the improvement of the project management system should be:

Optimization of the planning system (timing, budget);

• Implementation and improvement of innovative approaches in the area of project management;

• Implementation and improvement of methodological support for construction management;

• Operational analysis and updating of construction data, making necessary allowances.

Coordination meetings on the improvement of the project management system can be thematic (conducted at the initiative of one of the parties, if necessary) or organizational (should be conducted as required by the General Contractor).

The agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation extends the Government of the Republic of Belarus of a state export credit for the construction of the nuclear power plant, and provides for a loan of US $10 billion to finance 90% of the cost of the contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant.

The State Program on Development of the Electric Power Industry for 2011–2015 includes the modernization of 400 kilometres of 220-330-750 kV transmission line backbone to ensure power output of the first unit of the NPP, as well as conversion of 220 kV power transmission lines to 330 kV ones.

Decree No. 583 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 December 2013, stipulates “reorganization of the state enterprise Directorate for the Construction of the Nuclear Power Plant.” Order No. 1 of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus dated 10 January 2014 established Republican Unitary Enterprise “Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant”, as a result of the reorganization of the state enterprise “Directorate for the Construction of the Nuclear Power Plant” through its reconstruction. It is defined as the customer of the NPP and the operating organization.

Also, the project “Electricity Generation System Analysis for Integration of Nuclear Power” was implemented within the framework of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme. As a result of the project, potential influence of integration of the NPP with 2000 MW capacity on the national energy system was evaluated and a feasibility study of the use of nuclear energy as compared to alternative methods of electric power generation was performed.

The outcomes of this study demonstrated that based on the demand, technology cost and fuel import price assumptions for the period 2005 to 2035, the policy of the Government of Belarus of introducing 2000 MW of nuclear power by 2020 is economically viable and attractive from both an economic and energy security perspective. Sensitivity tests proved that nuclear power can be a competitive electricity generating option for Belarus over a wide range of nuclear investment cost, alternative fuel price, competing technology and discount rate assumptions.

No.	Organization	Type of activity
1	Republican unitary enterprise “Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant”	Carry out functions of the customer for the construction and the operator (operating organization) for commissioning, operation, limiting performance, life extension and decommissioning of a nuclear power plant
2	Republican unitary enterprise “Grodnoenergo”	The customer for the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure (external power supply networks)
3	State Association “Belarusian Railways”	The customer for the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure (railway line to the nuclear power plant)
4	Department “Belavtodor” of the Ministry of Transport and Communications	The customer for the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure (access roads to the nuclear power plant)
5	Project Research Republican Unitary Enterprise “Belnipienergoprom”	General designer for the design and survey work on the construction of industrial facilities for the construction of nuclear power plants
6	Regional unitary project enterprise “Institute Grodnograzhdanproekt”	General designer for design and survey work on the construction of housing facilities and housing infrastructure
7	Rented enterprise “Minsk Promtransproekt”	General designer for the design and survey work on the construction of a railway line to the nuclear power plant
8	Open Joint-Stock Company “Grodnopromstroy”	General contractor for the construction of housing stock, housing infrastructure, railway line to the nuclear power plant
9	Open Joint Stock Company “Belenergostroy”	General contractor for the construction of industrial facilities for the construction of a nuclear power plant
10	Scientific research rented enterprise “Stroyeconomika”	Evaluation of financial and economic indicators contained in the draft agreement (contract) for the construction of a nuclear power plant, provisions of the parties responsibility, assessment of the performance of such an agreement (contract)
11	Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus	State supervision in the area of nuclear and radiation safety
12	State Scientific Institution "The Joint Institute for Power and Nuclear Research — Sosny"	Scientific support for NPP construction work

Initially, 74 prospective sites for NPP construction were identified. At the first stage, 20 sites were excluded from the list as having eliminatory factors as determined by the main criteria and requirements for site selection. The remaining 54 sites were subject to analysis based on available library and archive information.

To reduce the amount of survey work, a special expert commission analysed hydrological, seismotectonic, environmental, aerometeorological, radiological, and engineering–geological factors and land use conditions, as well as the results of additional reconnaissance field studies. This analysis made it possible to single out 3 best perspective areas for detailed examination.

In 2006–2008, three sites were identified in these areas:

Krasnopolyanskaya (Bykhov area);

• Koukshinovskaya (Shklovsko-Goretskiy area);

• Ostrovetskaya (Ostrovets area).

On these sites, research and survey work was conducted to select the priority site for NPP construction. In December 2008, based on the results of this work, the specially established State Commission defined the Ostrovetskaya site as the priority; the two others were approved as reserve sites.

The research and survey activities on the priority site were completed in 2009, and the environmental impact assessment report was prepared. The report is now being finalized taking into account the results of consultation and public hearings conducted within the framework of Espoo Convention mechanisms.

The State Enterprise “Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction” is appointed as a customer for the package of preparatory and design and planning work required to construct the NPP.

“Atomstroyexport” (Russian Federation), the state engineering company, which is subordinated to “Rosatom” and implements intergovernmental agreements on NPP construction outside the Russian Federation, is defined as general contractor.

State Scientific Institution “Joint Institute for Power and Nuclear Research — Sosny” conducted a review of possibilities for using industrial, construction, raw material and scientific bases — as well as human resources — of the Republic of Belarus in the NPP construction. The review demonstrated that Belarus has sufficient reserves of building materials for construction of the NPP and required infrastructure.

The Ministry of Economy developed the Perspective Plan of the Development of the Region of the NPP Construction. The Plan determines participation of national and local industries in creating the industrial base for NPP construction and developing the required infrastructure (transport, communication, power transmission lines, housing, new enterprises, social objects).

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The strategy for the nuclear fuel cycle management is based on the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the construction of the nuclear power plant on the territory of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter — the Intergovernmental Agreement), as well as on a number of design decisions on fresh and spent nuclear fuel management at the Belarusian NPP.

The nuclear fuel cycle of the Republic of Belarus consists of the following stages:

1. “Front end”, which includes:

Measures for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel;

• Fresh nuclear fuel management at a nuclear power plant.

  2. “Back end”, which includes:

Spent and irradiated nuclear fuel management at a nuclear power plant;

• Spent nuclear fuel management outside the nuclear power plant.

Measures for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel are written into the Intergovernmental Agreement, according to which “the Russian Party provides supplies by Russian executing organizations, and the Belarusian Party provides procurement by Belarusian executing organizations during the entire period of operation of the nuclear power units which are built in accordance with this Agreement on a contractual basis.”

At the same time, the short term supply of fresh nuclear fuel (for the first load and the first refueling) is set forth in the Amendment to the General Contract on the construction of the Belarusian NPP, and for the long term (for the rest of the operation period) it is set forth in the Contract on the supply of fresh nuclear fuel with the Russian organization JSC TVEL. In accordance with the contract obligations, fresh nuclear fuel is supplied to the nuclear power plant in the form of fuel assemblies.

Further, after the delivery of fresh nuclear fuel to the nuclear power plant, it is managed in accordance with the technical and organizational solutions adopted in the NPP project, including:

Fresh nuclear fuel is stored in the 1st class new fuel storage facility on the site of the nuclear power plant.

• It is transported through the site of the nuclear power plant by special purpose vehicles.

• It is operated in the reactor core of units 1 and 2 (within 3–4 years each fuel assembly).

After the fuel exhaustion in the reactor core, the spent nuclear fuel is kept under the protective layer of water in the fuel storage ponds specially designed by the NPP project. Thus, for a minimum of 3 years, the decay heat is removed and the radiation characteristics are reduced to values that ensure safe transportation of SNF.

The further procedure for spent nuclear fuel management after its spent fuel decay at the site of the Belarusian NPP will be covered in the Strategy for the Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel. Currently, the Strategy for the Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel is under development. In the development of the strategy, various options for SNF management are being considered. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that according to the Agreement “on cooperation in the construction of the nuclear power plant on the territory of the Republic of Belarus”, spent nuclear fuel purchased from Russian executing organizations should be returned to the Russian Federation for reprocessing under terms determined by the Parties in a separate agreement.

The approximate timeframe for the development of the strategy for SNF management is 2019.

“Law on the Use of Atomic Energy” No. 426-3 of 30 July 2008 states the national policy of the Republic of Belarus in the area of the use of atomic energy. Among other aspects, this law governs the relations associated with the management of operational radioactive waste and empowers the state bodies to act in this area.

Health norms and rules, including “Requirements for ensuring radiation safety of personnel and the population when radioactive waste management”, were approved by Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus No. 142, dated 31 December 2015, and set the criteria and characteristics for qualification of waste as radioactive. Radiation safety requirements for RWM have also been established.

The Strategy for Radioactive Wastes Management of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, approved by Resolution No. 460 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, dated 2 June, identifies the tasks and the main directions of its implementation, describes the system of radioactive waste management at the Belarusian NPP and identifies sources of funding for the implementation of the strategy. This strategy has been developed taking into account the principles of radioactive waste management recommended by the IAEA. The project of the Belarusian NPP provides for the radioactive waste management system operation and the RW storage in the on-site spent fuel storage for ten years, followed by their transfer to the radioactive waste disposal facility, the construction of which is not provided for by the project. The RW management system includes the collection, partitioning, remediation, reprocessing, conditioning, transportation and storage of radioactive waste generated during the operation of the nuclear power plant. Storage of RW containers is provided at a nuclear power plant in specially equipped surface storage facilities, one for each power unit. High level radioactive waste will be stored at the nuclear power plant throughout its lifetime, and very low level, low level and medium level radioactive waste for ten years of the NPP operation.

For the purpose of constructing the RW disposal facility, the Strategy provides for the implementation of the following measures:

Carrying out, not later than 2023, survey work for choosing the location of the RW disposal facility in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents;

• Preparation in 2023 of a petition (declaration) about plans for design and construction of a radioactive waste disposal facility with submission to a local executive authority for its consideration and approval in accordance with the established procedure;

• The development of design documentation for the RW disposal facility up to 2026 in accordance with the requirements of regulatory legal acts;

• Construction of the first stage RW disposal facility by 2028 for the disposal of radioactive waste generated at the nuclear power plant for ten years of its operation.

According to the State Program “Scientific support to the development of nuclear energy in the Republic of Belarus for 2009–2010 and for the period up to 2020”, the main organization responsible for the implementation of the programme is the State Scientific Institution “Joint Institute for Power and Nuclear Research — Sosny” of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The main goal of the programme is the development and introduction of scientific and technical proposals aimed at optimizing technological processes, enhancing nuclear, radiation and environmental safety, improving physical protection and increasing efficiency of the nuclear power sector.

The implementation of the programme will make it possible to effectively use the existing industrial and human capacities of Belarus, to minimize negative impact of nuclear facilities on the environment and population, and to develop measures aimed at increasing NPP efficiency. An emphasis is also put on human resources development.

The programme is funded from the national budget.

The “Sosny” Institute conducts research in the following areas:

Analytical and numerical methods for description of chaos associated tunneling and applications in micro- and nanoelectronics based on these methods;

• Conditions of stable work of quantum computers;

• Physics and kinetics of accelerator driven systems and accelerator driven transmutation technologies;

• Methods of nondestructive control of radioactive materials, etc.

The “Sosny” Institute has being actively cooperating with International Scientific and Technical Center, IAEA, leading research centres of western Europe and the United States of America. The Institute continues to implement joint activities with leading nuclear research centres of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Special interest is given to research on new technologies of energy generation, transmutation of radiotoxic elements of the nuclear fuel cycle, physics of reactors and subcritical systems with external sources, and creation of nuclear data libraries in the broad range of mass numbers and energies. This work is carried out in cooperation with nuclear research institutes in Republic of Korea and Japan, Federal Nuclear Center (Germany), Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation), Research Center on Energy and Technologies (Spain), Royal Technological Institute (Sweden), Institute of Nuclear Research (Ukraine), and the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

Studies in application of ionizing radiation are performed in cooperation with the Institute of Applied Radiochemistry and Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (Poland) and the Scientific and Research Institute of Nuclear Reactors (Russian Federation).

Cooperation of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus and the state enterprise “Belarusian NPP” with the International Atomic Energy Agency is carried out on the basis of agreed plans within the framework of which seminars, training courses, expert missions, and technical and scientific visits to nuclear power plants all over the world are conducted.

Already completed IAEA technical cooperation projects include:

2010–2011: BYE/006, “Developing Human Resources and a Training System for the Nuclear Power Programme”.

• 2012–2013: BYE/2/004, “Developing Nuclear Power Infrastructure and a Staff Training System for a Nuclear Power Programme”. Within the framework of this project, the INIR mission “Integrated mission for assessing the readiness of the national nuclear power infrastructure of the Republic of Belarus” was conducted.

• 2014–2015: BYE/2/005, “Supporting Human Resources and Infrastructure Development for the Nuclear Power Programme”.

• 2016–2017: BYE/2/006, “Supporting Human Resources and Infrastructure Development for the Commissioning of the First Nuclear Power Plant”.

An IAEA technical cooperation project for 2018–2019 has been developed and approved: BYE/2/007 “Improving Capacity of Operating Organization for Ensuring Safe and Reliable Nuclear Power Plant Operation”.