BELARUS

(Updated 2022)

PREAMBLE AND SUMMARY

This report provides information on the status and development of the nuclear power programme in Belarus, including factors related to the effective planning, decision making and implementation of the nuclear power programme that together lead to safe and sustainable operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs).

The Country Nuclear Power Profile (CNPP) summarizes organizational and industrial aspects of nuclear power programme and provides information about the relevant legislative, regulatory and international framework in the Republic of Belarus.

A nuclear power plant with a total capacity 2400 MW (two units) is under construction in Ostrovets, in the Grodno region. Unit 1 of the Belarusian NPP has been in operation since June 2021, and Unit 2 of the Belarusian NPP is planned to be in operation in 2022.

1. COUNTRY ENERGY OVERVIEW

1.1. ENERGY INFORMATION

1.1.1. Energy policy

State policy and regulation within the energy sector, including nuclear energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy, are implemented through laws, decrees and directives adopted by the President of the Republic of Belarus. The Council of Ministers adopts resolutions to guide energy sector development strategies, ensure the implementation of policies and regulate residential end user energy tariffs upon the President's approval. Legislative measures within the energy sector are prepared by the Ministry of Energy and experts in the sector, before they are submitted for approval through the National Assembly.

Currently, the main directions for the development of the national fuel and energy complex are defined in the Concept of Energy Security of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Resolution No. 1084 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 23 December 2015. The main goal of the Concept is to strengthen energy security and increase the energy independence of the Republic of Belarus.

1.1.2. Estimated available energy

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

	Fossil fuels			Nuclear	Renewables
	Coal	Crude Oil	Natural Gas	Uranium	Hydro	Other renewable
Total amount in specific units*	8056	56.25	3.43	n.a.**	0.446	0.224***

* Solid, liquid: million tons; Gas: billion m³; Uranium: tonnes; Hydro, renewable: TW.

** There are no uranium energy sources in Belarus.

*** Wind, Solar Source: Ministry of Energy (Strategy of Energy Potential Development of the Republic of Belarus).

1.1.3. Energy consumption statistics

TABLE 2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Final Energy consumption [PJ]	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	Compound annual growth rate 2000-2020 (%)
Total	746	784	806	743	769	0.15
Coal, Lignate and Peat	25	16	15	26	30	0.90
Oil	222	234	236	221	243	0.44
Natural gas	128	156	182	164	153	0.92
Bioenergy and Waste	31	36	38	26	28	-0.42
Electricity	93	96	103	103	110	0.83
Heat	247	246	232	202	205	-0.93

*Latest available data

Source: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

1.2. THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM

1.2.1. Electricity system and decision making process

The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Electric Power Industry until 2025, taking into account the commissioning of the Belarusian NPP and approved by the Resolution No. 169 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus on 1 March 2016, provides for commissioning and integration of the Belarusian NPP and necessary changes in the regulatory and technical framework. The plan also includes allowances for network rehabilitation and development, and the phasing out of tariff subsidies. The main technical goals are to:

1. Commission the Belarusian NPP (2 400 MW);

2. Reduce the share of gas in heat and electricity production to 60% by 2025;

3. Integrate the NPP into the grid by installing 916 MW of electric boilers with the State Production Association of the Electric Power Industry Belenergo (SPA Belenergo) and 200 MW with other consumers;

4. Construct 800 MW of peak reserve power capacity;

5. Restrict the Belarusian NPP's basic mode of operation in the non-heating period to 80% of rated power;

6. Introduce electric heating and hot water systems in new building construction when technically and economically feasible;

7. Expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electric public transport.

1.2.2. Structure of electric power sector

The electric power sector of Belarus is an intensively automated complex consisting of regional energy systems combined into the national system with integrated operation and control management.

Presently, the national electric power sector is integrated under SPA Belenergo, which includes the operation and control management facility. It integrates six regional electric power enterprises and various companies performing maintenance, production and reconstruction of electrical facilities, as well as research, design and technological activities and construction of new electric energy facilities.

As of 1 January 2022, the total established capacity of the SPA Belenergo thermal power plants amounted to 10 067.305 MW, and the total installed capacity of all power plants in Belarus was 11 232.774 MW.

The electrical network of the national electric power sector includes 0.4-750 kV transmission facilities with a total length of 281 230 km, transformer stations with 35-750 kV voltage and total installed capacity of 37 894.96 MVA and transformer stations with 6-10/0.4 kV voltage and total installed capacity of 17 447.35 MVA

The 220-750 kV power transmission lines are the backbone of the electric energy system and provide connections to the electric energy systems of Lithuania, Poland, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The total length of these lines is 7 670 km.

The 110 kV power transmission lines, with a total length of 17 340 km, provide for both transmission and distribution of electric energy.

The 0.4-35 kV electric network is used for distribution purposes and has a length of 256 220 km.

1.2.3. Main indicators

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

Electricity production (GWh)	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	Compound annual growth rate 2000-2020 (%)
Total	26 101	30 961	34 895	34 082	38 698	1.99
Coal, Lignate and Peat	0	4	28	38	31	0.00
Oil	1 714	940	829	362	532	-5.68
Natural gas	24 360	29 980	33 899	33 355	36 593	2.06
Bioenergy and Waste	0	0	93	186	435	0.00
Hydro	27	36	45	107	399	14.41
Nuclear	0	0	0	0	338	0.00
Wind	0	1	1	26	198	0.00
Solar	0	0	0	8	172	0.00

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

-: data not available.

Source: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, IAEA - Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

Final Energy consumption [PJ]	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2021*
Nulcear/total electricity(%)	0	0	0	0	1	14.1

*Latest available data.

Source: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, IAEA - Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), IAEA RDS-1.

-: data not available.

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION

Belarus started preparations to introduce nuclear power in the early 1980s but terminated this process after the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. In July 2006, the Government of Belarus decided to consider the nuclear energy option again. The goal was to strengthen national energy security and diversify the country's energy resources.

The political decision to launch a national nuclear power programme was made by adopting Resolution No. 1 of the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus of 31 January 2008 "On Development of Nuclear Energy in the Republic of Belarus".

2.1. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

2.1.1. Overview

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 an NPP consisting of two reactors with a 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 NPP and to put the first 1000 MW(e) unit into operation 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 the normative and legal bases for the 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.

On 15 March 2011, the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on cooperation in the construction of an NPP on the territory of the Republic of Belarus was signed.

On 18 July 2012, the general contract for the construction of the Belarusian NPP was signed between Republican Unitary Enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and JSC Atomstroyexport.

2.1.2. Current organizational structure

In 2006, in order to establish and continuously support strong communication, information sharing, and discussion and solution of problems facing the implementation of National Nuclear Power Programme, the Inter-Agency Commission was created in the Republic of Belarus (see Fig. 1).

In accordance with Decree No. 565 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 12 November 2007, the Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor) under the Ministry for Emergency Situations was established to supervise nuclear and radiation safety (regulator).

According to Decree No. 378 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 10 July 2008, the Department of Nuclear Energy of the Ministry of Energy was established. Its main function is the implementation of the national policy for nuclear energy.

In accordance with Decree No. 583 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 December 2013, the Belarusian NPP (operator) was established as a result of the reorganization of the State Enterprise "Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction". From 1 January 2020, the Belarusian NPP became part of SPA Belenergo, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Energy.

SPA Belenergo manages the economic activity of the power industry of the Republic of Belarus and includes 30 organizations such as regional power enterprises, construction and installation organizations, industrial infrastructure organizations, repair and maintenance enterprises, and research and design institutes. In total, there are more than 62 000 people employed in the Belarusian energy system. Energy sources operated by SPA Belenergo cover more than 95% of the electric energy needs and more than 50% of the thermal energy needs in Belarus.

The organization which carries out the scientific support for the construction of the NPP is State Scientific Institution Joint Institute for Power and Nuclear Research - Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny).

FIG 1. The Inter-Agency Commission

2.2. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: OVERVIEW

The Belarusian NPP with two PWR-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2400 MW is under construction at the Ostrovets site (Grodno region). The Belarusian NPP is a Russian design ."AES-2006" of "3+" generation with improved safety features.

FIG. 2. Location of the NPP on the map (adapted from https://www.un.org/geospatial/content/belarus)

2.2.1. Status and performance of nuclear power plants

On 5 October 2020, the stage "Loading the reactor with nuclear fuel" was completed at Unit 1.

In the period 9-23 October 2020, work was carried out at the stage "Achieving the critical state of the reactor and performing physical testing at the minimum controlled power level".

On 3 November 2020, Unit 1 was connected to the united energy system of the country.

On 22 December 2020, the trial operation stage began at Unit 1, which provides for the sequential increase of reactor power with the necessary tests, including the mode of resetting the turbine generator load to zero.

On 29 May 2021, the comprehensive testing of Unit 1 equipment at nominal parameters within 15 days was completed.

On 10 June 2021, Unit 1 was approved for operation by the acceptance committee in accordance with the established procedure.

As of 1 January 2022, the Belarusian NPP has produced 6,1 billion kWh of electricity once Unit 1 was connected to the united energy system of the country (on 3 November 2020). For 2021, the Belarusian NPP produced 5.8 billion kWh electricity.

The radiation levels in the production base and control area of the Belarusian NPP is within ambient background values.

On 24 March 2021, the substage "Reactor cold and hot tests" started at Unit 2.

From 27 July 2021 to 6 October 2021, tests of phase "Reactor equipment hot test" were performed.

From 6 October 2021 to 21 December 2021, the equipment inspection, preoperational metal control of main equipment and pipelines within substage "Reactor main equipment inspection" were performed.

On 16 December 2021, a demo test of the transportation and loading of fuel assembly simulators to Unit 2 reactor core was successfully performed.

On 21 December 2021, core fueling of Unit 2 reactor was started within the stage "Reactor start-up".

On 27 December 2021, core fueling of Unit 2 reactor was finished;

Commissioning of Unit 2 is planned in 2022.

TABLE 5. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Reactor Unit Type Net Capacity [MW(e)] Status Operator Reactor Supplier Construction date First Criticality Date First Grid Date Commercial Date Shutdown Date UCF for 2021 BELARUSIAN-1 PWR 1110 Operational BelNPP JSC ASE 2013-11-08 2020-10-11 2020-11-03 2021-06-10 59.5 BELARUSIAN-2 PWR 1110 Under Construction BelNPP JSC ASE 2014-04-27 0 Data source: IAEA - Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).

Note: Table is completely generated from PRIS data to reflect the latest available information and may be more up to date than the text of the report.

2.2.2. Plant upgrading, plant life management and licence renewals

The nuclear and radiation safety norms and rules "Requirements for the implementation of modifications at nuclear power plants and their safety assessment", approved by the Resolution No. 34 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus on 27 July 2017, established general technical requirements for activities related to the implementation of modifications (modernization) at the NPP and assessment of its safety during commissioning and operation of NPPs. This also included the procedure for the development and implementation of modifications at NPPs, categories of modifications, in depending on their impact on safety, as well as the reporting procedure for the development and implementation of modifications to the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry for Emergency Situations.

The planned modernization works are formed on the basis of the identified operational problems for the Belarusian NPP as a whole or for Unit 1 and Unit 2, depending on the priority, and are included in the "Comprehensive long-term modernization program". The comprehensive long-term modernization program is an integrated document that determines the scope of Belarusian NPP modernization package, the projected duration and expert costs for its implementation and is formed for a period of 5 years. Modernization procedures have been developed at the Belarusian NPP establishing the procedure for planning, preparing and implementing measures for permanent modifications (modernization).

The basis for effective management of the life cycle of the Belarusian NPP is the consideration of the physical and moral aging of structures, systems and components, as well as control over the resource characteristics of equipment at each stage of the life cycle. In order to ensure the performance of the required safety functions of systems, structures and components during the life cycle of the Belarusian NPP, a complete package of documents on the equipment life characteristics and ageing management of structures, systems and components have been developed to manage the degradation processes of components and structures important to safety (due to mechanisms ageing, depreciation, corrosion, erosion, fatigue, etc.), as well as to monitor and maintain the operability and reliability of systems important to safety during operation.

The life characteristics management of the Belarusian NPP Unit 1 components is implemented by:

1. maintenance and repair of components;

2. modernization of components;

3. assessment of the technical condition, residual life and extending the service life of components;

4. monitoring of the true conditions and the performance of components;

5. account of actual end-of-life and determination of residual resource;

6. maintenance of a database regarding damages, their accumulation and development, degradation mechanisms, failures and disruptions in work;

7. identification of blind spots and mechanisms of degradation and actions to eliminate them or reduce the impact on NPP components;

8. mitigation of operating modes to reduce the rate of components resource depletion;

9. assessment of the effectiveness of the work performed to manage the components resource.

Licensing activities of the Belarusian NPP in the use of nuclear energy and sources of ionizing radiation are carried out in accordance with the Regulations on Licensing Activities in the Field of the Use of Nuclear Energy and Sources of Ionizing Radiation, approved by Decree No. 137 of the President of the Republic of Belarus on 5 April 2021.

Special licensing requirements and conditions (requirements of the licensing authority) are specified in the licence of the Belarusian NPP for the use of nuclear energy and sources of ionizing radiation.

The information about issued licences for the use of nuclear energy and sources of ionizing radiation is provided in the Unified Register of Licences. This information is public. The Unified Register of Licenses is posted on the official website: https://license.gov.by

On 31 May 2012, a licence for the placement of Unit 1 and 2 of the Belarusian NPP was issued to the operator. The licence enabled an engineering survey and research on the sites of the units and priority activities of the preparatory period of construction prior to the pouring of concrete into the foundation of the main buildings and constructions.

On 13 September 2013, the Board of the Ministry for Emergency Situations took a decision to amend the licence for the right to build a nuclear installation (construction of bases and foundations of buildings and constructions of Unit 1 of the Belarusian NPP).

On 14 February 2014, the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant" received the licence for construction of the foundations of buildings and structures of Unit 2 of the Belarusian NPP.

On 22 April 2014, the Board of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus took a decision to amend the licence, which allowed the main stage of the construction of Unit 1 of the Belarusian NPP to start. The decision took into account confirmation that the chosen designs for Unit 1 met nuclear and radiation safety criteria as well as the requirements of the normative acts of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation (according to which the project was developed and the construction will be accomplished), in addition to the positive outcome of the conformity assessment.

On 30 December 2014, the Board of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus made a decision to amend the licence for Belarusian NPP Unit 2 construction.

On 13 April 2020, the Belarusian NPP was granted the right to handle fresh nuclear fuel.

On 6 August 2020, amendments were made to the existing licence, which made it possible to begin the first loading of the standard reactor core at stage "Physical start-up" of putting Belarusian NPP Unit 1 into operation.

On 8 October 2020, the Belarusian NPP received the right to perform physical experiments at the minimum controlled level at stage "Physical start-up" of the commissioning of Unit 1, as well as the right to manage operational radioactive waste.

On 23 October 2020, the Belarusian NPP was granted the right to perform work at stage "Power start-up" of Unit 1 commissioning.

On 21 December 2020, the corresponding amendments were made to the licence of the Belarusian NPP, which allowed stage "Pilot operation" of the commissioning of Unit 1 of the Belarusian NPP to be carried out.

On 2 June 2021, the Board of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus decided to amend the licence regarding operation of the Belarusian NPP Unit 1.

On 21 December 2021 the Belarusian NPP was granted the right to start the phase of the stage "Physical start-up" of Unit 2 commissioning.

2.2.3. Permanent shutdown and decommissioning process

The design life of the reactor installation is 60 years. The main variants of the NPP Unit decommissioning are presented in the Belarusian NPP safety analysis report. According to the specified requirements, the operator must provide:

1. development of a program for the decommissioning of the NPP Unit no later than 5 years before the expiration of the design life of the NPP (NPP unit);

2. conduction of comprehensive engineering and radiation safety audit before the decommissioning;

3. updating of the NPP (NPP Unit) decommissioning programs after the comprehensive engineering and radiation safety audit;

4. development of the NPP Unit decommissioning project based on the comprehensive engineering and radiation safety audit materials and preparation of the safety analysis report for the NPP decommissioning.

The Unit NPP, shut down for decommissioning, is considered to be in operation until all nuclear materials, including fresh nuclear fuel and spent nuclear fuel, are removed from it.

2.3. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR POWER SECTOR

2.3.1. Nuclear power development strategy

On 31 January 2008, the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus made a decision to construct the first Belarusian nuclear power plant to ensure energy safety and sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

As a result of a comprehensive review of NPP projects offered by leading companies in the global nuclear technology market, the Russian project "AES-2006" of the modern generation "3+" with two PWR-1200 reactors (pressure-cooled waterpower reactor), corresponding to the most rigorous standards and recommendations of the IAEA and characterized by enhanced safety characteristics, was chosen. The capacity of power units is 2 x 1194 MW; the design life of the NPP is 60 years.

On 18 July 2012, the Customer (State enterprise Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, Republic of Belarus) and the Contractor (Joint Stock Company Atomstroyexport, Russian Federation) concluded the general contract for the NPP construction of a turnkey type.

The Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organization (NEPIO) is the Nuclear Energy Department of the Ministry of Energy. It was established in accordance with Decree No. 378 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 10 July 2008. Its main function is the implementation of the national policy for nuclear energy.

2.3.2. Project management

The type of project management that is implemented by General Contractor is applicable for the Belarusian NPP construction. The Customer delegates the management functions to the General Contractor and personally supervises certain process results. The General Contractor independently forms the organizational structure of project management, allocates resources and implements all project management functions, involving subcontracting organizations and its own divisions on a temporary basis to perform selected project work package.

The Customer controls the construction process from the investment plan to the commissioning of the nuclear power plant.

In accordance with Decree No. 565 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 12 November 2007, the following institutions were established:

1. The Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, to perform the functions of the customer for preparatory and design and survey activities (operator);

2. The Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor) under the Ministry for Emergency Situations, to supervise nuclear and radiation safety (regulator).

In January 1, 2020, by Presidential Decree, the Belarusian NPP was incorporated into the Belarusian national electric company SPA Belenergo (managing company). Belenergo provides technical support to the operator with the involvement of specialized Belarusian organizations.

Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny provides scientific support for the development of the nuclear power programme (e.g. nuclear power engineering; nuclear and radiation technologies; radioactive waste management; fundamental and applied research in the fields of nuclear physics, elementary particles physics, high energy physics).

2.3.3. Project funding

The agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation extends a State export loan for the construction of the NPP to the Government of the Republic of Belarus and provides for a loan of US $10 billion to finance 90% of the cost of the contract for the construction of the NPP.

2.3.4. Electric grid development

The Belarusian Electric Grid currently has interconnections with the Baltic States, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. The Baltic States and Ukraine are considering disconnecting from the Belarusian grid and synchronizing with the European Union grid. This was taken into account in the analysis of upgrades required.

A feasibility study was carried out to determine the optimal solutions for the construction of the Belarusian NPP power output. The quantity of transmission lines and directions necessary for reliable NPP power output have been determined based on the modelling of long-term modes and possible accidents during NPP operation.

Seven new 330 kV transmission lines have been constructed, together with one new and one upgraded substation.

These seven transmission lines connect the Belarusian NPP with the Belarusian Electric Grid as follows: NPP - Smorgon, NPP - Minsk North, NPP - Molodechno, NPP - Ros, NPP - Stolbcy, NPP - Postavy 1&2.

To support a reliable operation of NPP, the 330 kV transmission lines of the Belarusian Electric Grid were refurbished in the framework of NPP power output implementation and electrical grid improvement. The key facilities are the large 330 kV substation Postavy, seven 330 kV transmission lines and Stolbcy substation (voltage changing from 220 kV to 330 kV).

Twenty-three substations were allocated for effective coordination of the Belarusian NPP power output. Required transmission lines and power facilities were constructed and modernized. In total, 1032.5 km of new transmission lines have been constructed and 672.4 km of 330 kV transmission lines have been refurbished. All 23 start-up complexes have started operation. This work was completed in December 2018. All seven 330 kV transmission lines have been in operation since May 2020. The grid system control provides for primary, secondary and tertiary reserve capacity. Reserve capacity can be provided by the existing generating plants and the construction of new facilities in the future. Additionally, to ensure the operational reserve, four peak reserve sources are being built (highly manoeuvrable gas turbine power plants).

The goals and main directions of development of the backbone and distribution power grids are defined by the Concept for the Development of Power Generating Capacities and Power Grids for the Period until 2030 and the Programme for the complex modernization of energy sector production for 2021-2025. To improve the reliability of the National Electric Grid System, the building of (reconstruction) about 2 700 km of all voltage classes of electric networks annually in the period 2021-2025 is planned.

2.3.5. Sites

The decision on the selection of a site for the Belarusian NPP was made in accordance with IAEA standards, international obligations and national legislation.

Initially, in the 1980s, 74 prospective areas were identified. After the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, plans to construct the NPP in Belarus were cancelled.

In the 2000s, after returning to the idea of embarking on nuclear power, the desk review and, if necessary, minor additional reconnaissance works of the prospective areas were conducted. As a result of this review, 71 out of 74 areas were excluded for two reasons - given the long-time lag, the land use conditions in those areas had changed or engineering, hydrological, hydrogeological, geological, and other conditions in the areas proved to be unsuitable for NPP construction.

The three remaining areas were recommended for further in-depth investigation: Bykhov and Shklov-Gorki areas in Mogilev region as well as Ostrovets area in Grodno region.

The primary criterion for the site selection process was safety. No prohibiting factors for NPP construction at these sites were detected.

However, at the Krasnaya Polyana and Kukshinovo sites, carbonates were found at a depth of about 45 m. In light of possible karst processes, costly engineering solutions would be needed to ensure the safety of the future NPP. These circumstances, as well as the outcomes of the IAEA dedicated expert missions in 2008, were taken into account. Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out for the planned Belarusian NPP. All three alternative sites were thoroughly and equally described in the EIA report. In line with the Espoo Convention, in 2009-2013 Belarus carried out transboundary consultations on the basis of the EIA report with the governments of Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine as well as their public.

On 2 November 2013, after the completion of the transboundary EIA procedure for the Belarusian NPP, the President of the Republic of Belarus authorized the construction of the Belarusian NPP and approved the Ostrovets site for these purposes. This decision was based on the EIA results, including the results of transboundary consultations, and the approved design documentation, as well as the approvals and conclusions provided for by national legislation.

In 2017, the IAEA's Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) Mission confirmed that Belarus had taken the necessary steps to ensure protection of the NPP in case of the worst possible external event, that site-specific external hazards (earthquakes, floods, extreme weather conditions, events caused by human factors) had been appropriately considered in the NPP design, and that measures had been taken in the light of the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP.

2.3.6. Public awareness

When Belarus began considering its nuclear power programme, it conducted surveys and reviews starting in 2005 to determine the level of knowledge of and attitude towards the use of nuclear power. These surveys indicated that 28.3% of a representative sampling of 2 000 persons responded positively towards nuclear power.

Since October 2009, the Information Centre of the NPP in Ostrovets (the nearest city to the Belarusian NPP site) has been operating with the aim of ensuring good communication with the public and mass media. The Centre is intended to inform the public on nuclear energy issues and the construction of the Belarusian NPP.

In 2012, the Ministry of Energy and the State Atomic Energy Corporation from the Russian Federation "Rosatom", the company chosen as a vendor of nuclear technologies for construction Belarusian NPPs, agreed to cooperate on a communication strategy for the Belarusian NPP construction project. Since 2012, annual action plans regarding communication for the Belarusian NPP have been developed and implemented. The Ministry of Energy developed a common communication strategy with the vendor for the public and the mass media, and coordinated all activities in this field.

In order to strengthen communication with the public and mass media, the Atomic Energy Information Centre (AEIC) was opened in 2015 in Minsk, with the support of Rosatom.

Because of the work done, surveys showed a growth of positive attitude towards nuclear power and the construction of an NPP in Belarus.

2.4. ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF NPPS

The State Enterprise The Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction is defined as a customer of Belarusian NPP construction.

In December 2013, by Presidential Decree, the State Enterprise The Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction was converted into the Republican unitary enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and performs the functions of an operator.

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

JSC Atomstroyexport (Russian Federation) was selected as a general contractor. JSC Atomstroyexport is building BelNPP under the terms of full responsibility ('turnkey').

For the construction of the Belarusian NPP, the general contractor involved 46 construction and installation organizations and 10 commissioning organizations, including specialized Belarusian companies.

2.5. ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN OPERATION OF NPPS

In 2013, the State Enterprise The Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction was converted into the Republican unitary enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (operating organization).

In January 2020, by Presidential Decree, the Belarusian NPP was incorporated into the Belarusian national electric company SPA Belenergo (managing company). Belenergo provides technical support to the operator with the involvement of specialized Belarusian organizations. Maintenance at the operational phase will be provided by Belarusian and Russian companies.

Belarusian NPP concluded agreements with JSC Rusatom Service (Russian Federation) and JSC Belenergoremnaladka (Minsk, Belarus) to perform routine maintenance works, repair and maintenance of the Belarusian NPP Unit 1 equipment.

The organizations of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian companies including JSC NPO CNIITMASH (Russian Federation), JSC NIKIMT-Atomstroy (Russian Federation), JSC OKB Gidropress, JSC VNIIAES NRC Kurchatov Institute, and JSC TVEL are involved to provide technical support to Belarusian NPP at the operational stage.

2.6. ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN DECOMMISSIONING OF NPPS

Not applicable.

2.7. FUEL CYCLE INCLUDING WASTE MANAGEMENT

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

1. 'Front end', which includes:

1. Measures for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel;

2. Fresh nuclear fuel management at the NPP.

1. 'Back end', which includes:

3. Spent and irradiated nuclear fuel management at the NPP;

4. Spent nuclear fuel management outside the NPP.

Measures for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel are set forth in 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; for the long term (for the rest of the period of operation), it is set forth in the Contract on the supply of fresh nuclear fuel with the Russian organization TVEL JSC. In accordance with the contract obligations, fresh nuclear fuel is supplied to the NPP in the form of fuel assemblies.

After delivery at the NPP, fresh nuclear fuel is managed in accordance with the technical and organizational solutions adopted in the NPP project, including:

1. It is stored in the first-class new fuel storage facility at the site of the NPP.

2. It is transported through the site of the NPP by special purpose vehicles.

3. It is operated in the reactor core of Units 1 and 2 (each fuel assembly is operated for 3-4 years).

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. Spent nuclear fuel can be stored in a spent nuclear fuel pool for ten years, during which a reliable removal of decay heat is ensured, and the radiation characteristics are reduced to values that ensure safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel.

Further management of spent nuclear fuel will be carried out in the framework of the Strategy for Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel of the Belarusian NPP, approved by the Resolution No. 558 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 22 August 2019. In the development of the Strategy, various options were considered for spent nuclear fuel management after its removal from the spent fuel pool.

According to the Agreement on cooperation in the construction of the NPP 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.

At present, according to the provisions of the Strategy, the preferred option for spent nuclear fuel management of the Belarusian NPP is the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the Russian Federation with the return to the Republic of Belarus of wastes incorporated in a glass-like matrix containing radionuclides of the cesium-strontium fraction, with the exception of long-lived radionuclides.

At the same time, a mandatory stage of spent nuclear fuel management before sending it for reprocessing is long term interim storage, which is possible both on the territory of the Russian Federation and on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. To optimize the transport and technological operations associated with the preparation and subsequent dispatch of spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing in the Russian Federation, the Strategy provides for the construction of a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel with the use of dual-purpose containers, technologically compatible with the design spent nuclear fuel management system of the Belarusian NPP.

The Strategy for Radioactive Waste Management of the Belarusian NPP, approved by Resolution No. 460 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, dated 2 June 2015, 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 radioactive waste management system at NPPs includes collection, sorting, processing, conditioning transportation and storage of radioactive waste generated during the operation of an NPP.

The design of the Belarusian NPP provides for storage of containers with conditioned radioactive waste in specially equipped above-ground storage facilities for solid radioactive waste (one for each power unit):

1. Very low level, low level and intermediate level radioactive waste - within ten years of NPP operation;

2. Highly active radioactive waste - throughout the entire lifetime of the NPP.

The strategy identifies the need to build a near surface radioactive waste disposal facility. For the purpose of constructing the radioactive waste disposal facility, the Strategy provides for the implementation of the following measures:

1. Identification by 2023 of possible locations of the radioactive waste disposal facility in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents;

2. 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 approval in accordance with the established procedure;

3. The development of design documentation for the radioactive waste disposal facility by 2026 in accordance with the requirements of regulatory legal acts;

4. Construction of the first stage radioactive waste disposal facility by 2030 for the disposal of radioactive waste generated at the NPP for ten years of its operation.

The issue of high level solid radioactive waste disposal in deep geological formation is being worked out as part of the scientific and technical support for radioactive waste management involving the organizations of the National Academy of Sciences, government bodies within their qualifications.

2.8. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

2.8.1. R&D organizations

Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny conducts applied scientific research in the following areas:

1. Nuclear power development in the Republic of Belarus;

2. Nuclear power engineering, nuclear and radiation technologies;

3. Radioactive waste management;

4. Fundamental and applied research in the fields of nuclear physics, elementary particles physics, high energy physics;

At present, scientific support of the work on the construction of the Belarusian NPP is one of the primary fields of activity of the institute.

In accordance with Subprogramme 3 "Scientific support for the safe operation of the Belarusian NPP and the prospective development of nuclear energy" of the State programme "Science-Intensive Technologies and Equipment" for 2021-2025, approved by the Resolution No. 245 of the Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 23 April 2021, Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny is the main executing organization of this subprogramme.

The purpose of this subprogramme is to provide scientific support for the efficient and safe operation of the Belarusian NPP throughout its entire life cycle, the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, as well as the development of promising areas for the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.

The subprogramme is funded from the State budget.

2.8.2. Development of advanced nuclear power technologies

Scientific Institution "JIPNR-Sosny" conducts research in the following areas:

1. The physics of nuclear reactors and radiation protection, criticality of fissile materials and nuclear safety;

2. The development of a new generation of nuclear reactors of different purposes;

3. The development of the project and construction of the Centre for Nuclear Research and Technology on the basis of a multipurpose research nuclear reactor;

4. Methods of nondestructive control of nuclear and radioactive materials, etc.

2.8.3. International cooperation and initiatives

Since 2008, when the national nuclear energy programme was adopted in order to develop the necessary infrastructure for nuclear power generation, the Republic of Belarus has made significant progress thanks to fruitful cooperation with competent international organizations.

Cooperation of the Ministry of Energy and the Belarusian NPP with the IAEA 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 NPPs all over the world are conducted.

Given that Belarus is an embarking country, the IAEA's support in identifying and eliminating gaps in the national nuclear energy infrastructure is essential. The Belarusian NPP and Belarus as a whole received significant assistance from the IAEA within the framework of the technical cooperation (TC) projects:

1. 2010-2011: BYE/0/006, "Developing Human Resources and a Training System for the Nuclear Power Programme";

2. 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;

3. 2014-2015: BYE/2/005, "Supporting Human Resources and Infrastructure Development for the Nuclear Power Programme";

4. 2016-2017: BYE/2/006, "Supporting Human Resources and Infrastructure Development for the Commissioning of the First Nuclear Power Plant";

5. 2018-2019: BYE/2/007 "Improving Capacity of Operating Organization for Ensuring Safe and Reliable Nuclear Power Plant Operation";

6. The project BYE/2/008 "Enhancing the Operational Safety of the Nuclear Power Plant during Commissioning and Operation" has been extended until the end of 2022.

Apart from the IAEA, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) continues to be an important partner for the Belarusian NPP. Since the signing of the cooperation agreement in 2015, WANO has been providing effective consulting and expert support and has helped to solve the issues of maintaining personnel competence and qualifications. Since May 2018, when the agreement on scientific and technical cooperation with JSC Concern Rosenergoatom was signed, collaborative work has been related to the development of operational personnel resources, improving the quality assurance of the Belarusian NPP service, and if necessary, providing methodological assistance on various issues related to ensuring the safety of NPPs.

Along with this, the Belarusian NPP regularly organizes and takes part in international events of various formats and levels within the framework of the existing memoranda and intergovernmental agreements in the field of peaceful atomic energy use with such countries as Austria, Bangladesh, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and others.

In 2020, the Belarusian NPP took part in consideration and approval of the cooperation programme between the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Member States in the field of peaceful atomic energy use for the period up to 2030 and the Action Plan for its implementation for the period 2021-2025.

Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny has been actively cooperating with research and engineering organizations of the Russian Federation, including organizations of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, as well as with research centres of the European Union, the United States of America, and the IAEA. Scientific Institution JIPNR - Sosny carries out a significant amount of research work on the development and testing of a new type of nuclear fuel based on uranium-zirconium carbonitride (UZrCN). These works are carried out in international cooperation with the leading nuclear laboratories and centres in the world such as:

• Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory (US Department of Energy);

• The Federal State Unitarian Enterprise Scientific Research Institute, the Scientific Industrial Association "Luch" (Podolsk, Russian Federation);

• I.I. Leypunsky Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk) and Joint Stock Company State Scientific Center - Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (Dimitrovograd, Russian Federation);

• State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" (Russian Federation).

The Institute collaborates with Oak Ridge and Pacific North-West National Laboratories of the US Department of Energy on ensuring the physical protection of nuclear materials, facilities and ionizing radiation sources, management of ionizing radiation sources which were abandoned or withdrawn from illicit trafficking, and physical nuclear security culture.

By 2023, the planned results from the international technical assistance provided to the Belarusian NPP and Belarus as a whole, are the operating organization will expand its capabilities for the secure, reliable and safe commissioning and further operation of Units 1 and 2 as well as improved nuclear energy infrastructure for the peaceful use of atomic energy.

2.9. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

In 2008, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus approved the State Programme of Human Resources Development for the Nuclear Energy Sector for 2008-2020. This programme is aimed at establishing a comprehensive system of human resources development, which will ensure knowledge and skills required for construction and safe operation of the NPP; nuclear and radiation safety; and safety of NPP personnel, the population and the environment.

In accordance with the programme, new specializations were opened in the following higher education institutions:

1. Belarusian State University (BSU);

2. Sakharov International Ecological Institute of BSU;

3. Belarusian State Technical University;

4. Belarusian State University of Information Technologies and Radio Electronics.

Unit 1 is fully staffed with trained operating personnel who carry out commissioning of the unit and operate it. The specified personnel received permission from the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor) to conduct work in the area of atomic energy use.

Training and advanced training of NPP personnel, as well as maintenance of proficiencies, are carried out according to training programmes developed with the methodology of a systematic approach. Staff training and proficiency maintenance programmes are systematically reviewed to improve them.

Self-study materials (lesson notes and presentations in PDF format) are placed on the NPP server in the public domain.

A special section has been created on the NPP local area network server containing more than 300 IAEA documents related to basic safety standards, safety culture issues, knowledge management, systemic approach in training and the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP.

These materials can be used both in the process of training and for the annual proficiency maintenance.

NPP personnel training is carried out within a time frame that ensures:

1. Theoretical training;

2. Practical training (if necessary);

3. Knowledge verification (assessment) by enterprise commissions;

4. Internship at the enterprise (if necessary);

5. Supervised practical training (if necessary);

6. Obtaining of permits to conduct work in the area of atomic energy use issued by the Gosatomnadzor commission (if necessary);

7. Ability to work unsupervised.

In 2016, the Training Centre of the Belarusian NPP was opened, which has training and administrative and technical premises. The training premises of the Centre are equipped with the necessary methodological materials (training courses, posters and handouts) and technical training aids (full scope and local simulators, stands, instruments, laboratory equipment, computer training systems and others). For enterprise personnel training, 160 computer training systems were introduced in various areas of activity. To improve the personnel training system, the software for an integrated information system was installed on the Centre's server with the functions of supporting the methodology of a systematic approach, training planning and organizing, and automated training with knowledge assessment.

To train the employees of the enterprise, the Centre has a staff of 62, including instructors.

The educational process is planned annually, which enables timely training for a position (profession), proficiency maintenance, and advanced training of all categories of workers of the Belarusian NPP.

Through the Training Centre, the process of training of the operating and dispatching personnel of the power system and contracting organizations of the Republic of Belarus has been implemented according to the agreed training programmes.

Since 2018, the training process at the Training Centre has been systematically monitored with feedback in the form of a questionnaire survey of trainees, heads of structural units and Training Centre inspectors who monitored the organization and conduct of classes.

Statistical processing of the questionnaires transforms the subjective impressions of trainees into objective statistical information about the quality of the training. If a rating is lower, an analysis is carried out in the Training Centre and the necessary corrective actions are taken in order to improve the training process in accordance with the document "Instruction. Development of a Plan to Address Deficiencies" (see also Standards 4 and 5 of A Methodology to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Training in Nuclear Facilities, IAEA-TECDOC-1893, IAEA, Vienna (2019)).

2.10. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

The Inter-Agency Commission (IAC) supervises stakeholder involvement activities for the nuclear power programme. Each key organization, Ministry of Energy, Belarusian NPP and Gosatomnadzor, has stakeholder involvement plans and prepares a quarterly report on the results of their activities. The IAC reviews the reports of all key stakeholders on a regular basis and makes decisions on further work.

A working group under IAC manages and coordinates the activities at a working level chaired by the Ministry of Energy. It involves six organizations: Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belarusian NPP, Gosatomnadzor and SPA Belenergo. This working group shares plans, collects information on events and reports to IAC. The working group can provide timely responses to requests for information and issues that arise.

The Belarusian NPP and the Ministry of Energy have a communication plan on the nuclear power programme including the construction progress. This plan identifies relevant information for the mass media, and methods of engaging with experts and business associations of Belarus. Information on the status of the NPP construction project is regularly posted on the internet by news agencies, on the web sites of the Ministry of Energy and the Belarusian NPP, as well as in popular social media networks.

The Information Centre of the Belarusian NPP provides information on NPP operation principles and safety measures applied and informs the public on various issues of nuclear energy and construction of the Belarusian NPP. Information on the construction of the NPP is distributed on the web sites of the enterprise and the Ministry of Energy, as well as in popular social media networks.

Press tours for journalists of foreign and Belarusian mass media are organized on a regular basis to the construction site of the Belarusian NPP. The construction of the Belarusian NPP is constantly covered in print and electronic media, including television, both in Belarus and abroad.

Annually, the Information Centre of the Belarusian NPP is visited by over 200 delegations from all over the world. Among them are schoolchildren, students, journalists, representatives of State bodies and public associations, and employees of enterprises and institutions. In 2021, the Information Center was visited by 136 delegations (2 584 people); since the start of its work, it has been visited by 26 000 people. The Information Centre provides services on a free basis only. The Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences conducts opinion polls among the general public related to the introduction of nuclear power. Opinion polls carried out in 2021 showed 64.9 % of respondents are in favor of the construction of an NPP in Belarus.

Since 2020 the Information center has received visitors in the demonstration building of the Training Centre of the Belarusian NPP.

In 2015, the Atomic Energy Information Centre (AEIC) was opened in Minsk. The Centre organizes educational and career opportunity events, scientific and technical conferences, etc. Since its opening 50 000 people have visited it.

The Department of Nuclear Energy cooperates with "Atomexpo" (Russian Federation), which acts as the exhibition operation of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom and as the provider of communications in the nuclear power industry in the Russian Federation. The International Exhibition Atomexpo-Belarus is held in Minsk annually in collaboration with this organization.

In 2009-2013, Belarus carried out a comprehensive environmental impact assessment for the Belarusian NPP with the participation of Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine and their public.

2.11. EMERGENCY PREPAREDENESS

In Belarus, the emergency preparedness system for nuclear and radiation accidents is integrated into the National Emergency Response System in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the protection of the population and territories from emergencies of natural and man-made character". The concept of creating the situational crisis centres system was approved by Resolution No. 479 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, dated 21 June 2016.

The system includes the crisis centres of the Belarusian NPP, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Committee, as well as the expert scientific and technical centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The Law "On the Use of Atomic Energy" and the Regulation on Conditions and Procedure for the Action Plans Development established requirements for the emergency preparedness and response plans in case of accidents at nuclear facilities. Emergency preparedness and response measures in the event of accidents at nuclear facilities are established by the Off-Site and On-Site Emergency Plans. The Off-Site Emergency Plan was approved by a governmental decree in March 2018.

The emergency preparedness system of the Belarusian NPP is integrated into the National Emergency Response System.

According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the protection of the population and territories from emergencies of natural and man-made character" and Resolution No. 495 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated on 10 April 2001 about national emergency prevention and elimination system, all facility-based components of national emergency response system were created at the NPP:

1. Coordination body - Emergency Situation Commission of the state enterprise Belarusian NPP;

2. Emergency management body - civil defense and emergency situation division of the state enterprise Belarusian NPP;

3. Emergency rescue service;

4. Information management system - crisis centers of the state enterprise "Belarusian NPP" (on site and off site);

5. Material resource reserves.

The main document of emergency preparedness is the Action Plan for the Protection of Personnel in the Event of an Accident at the Belarusian NPP (on-site emergency plan). The on-site emergency plan provides for the scope, timing and procedure for the implementation of measures for the protection of the personnel of the nuclear power plant in case of man-made emergencies, emergency rescue and other urgent operations and the determination of resources involved for this purpose.

On the basis of analysis of radiation consequences of the most severe beyond-design basis accident and the other factors of nature and man-made character the on-site emergency plan was developed.

The first version of the on-site emergency plan was developed in 2017. The approval of this plan was made by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Emergency Situation and the State Security Committee.

Drills and exercises to test the on-site emergency plan in case of an accident were conducted at the Belarusian NPP.

1. On 18 and 19 October 2017, an emergency exercise to test "Actions of the authorities and forces of the State Emergency System of Prevention and Elimination for response to radiation accidents" was conducted;

2. On 28 September 2018, a command post exercise in the crisis centers system to test "Information support of management decisions aimed at the prevention and elimination to consequences of nuclear or radiation accidents during all life cycle of the Belarusian NPP" was conducted;

3. On 3-4 October 2018, the state enterprise Belarusian NPP combined with state administrative bodies and organizations involved in emergency response (including WANO Moscow center) and conducted a command post exercise to test "Actions of the authorities and forces of the State Emergency System of Prevention and Elimination for response to radiation accidents".

According to these exercise results, amendments to the on-site emergency plan were made.

1. On 11 October 2019, comprehensive emergency training exercises ("Training and drills in case of radiation accident at the NPP (on-site and off-site plan)") were conducted;

2. On 07 July 2020, the on-site emergency plan with the amendments was approved by the Belarusian NPP Director General.

The on-site emergency plan is linked to the Protection Action Plan in Case of Radiation Accidents at the Belarusian NPP (off-site emergency plan). The off-site emergency plan is put into effect by a Decree of the Government of the Republic of Belarus in the event of a threat or occurrence of a radiation accident simultaneously with the adoption of a decision to boost the State System for the Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations or its individual territorial (sectoral) subsystems (links) to an increased or emergency mode of operation. The off-site emergency plan was approved by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 211 dated 22 March 2018.

The protected emergency response control post of the nuclear power plant and city was established and is on standby to ensure the management of forces and means of localization for the elimination of emergencies at the Belarusian NPP.

All control points are equipped with autonomous technological life support systems, as well as information systems, software and hardware complexes and communication facilities, a data transmission system, necessary technical documentation, and office equipment to ensure the work of emergency response participants.

3. NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

3.1. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

3.1.1. Regulatory authority(s)

To implement regulatory functions in the area of nuclear and radiation safety within the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety has been established. In accordance with the tasks assigned to it, Gosatomnadzor:

1. Develops regulatory requirements in the field of nuclear and radiation safety;

2. Considers documents justifying safety and prepares draft decisions on the issuance of licences in the area of the use of atomic energy and sources of ionizing radiation;

3. Organizes an assessment (examination) of the safety of nuclear power facilities and sources of ionizing radiation, examination of their design and project documentation, including with the involvement of independent experts;

4. Organizes and implements State supervision in the area of nuclear and radiation safety;

5. Organizes studies to substantiate the principles and criteria of nuclear and radiation safety;

6. Ensures the functioning of the State system for accounting and control of nuclear materials, the unified State system for accounting and control of sources of ionizing radiation;

7. Fulfils international obligations of the Republic of Belarus to ensure nuclear and radiation safety when using nuclear energy and sources of ionizing radiation;

8. Informs the public on issues of nuclear and radiation safety in the country.

The list of governmental bodies responsible for various aspects of nuclear safety and security also includes the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Security Committee (Article 7 of the Law "On the Use of Atomic Energy").

State administration in the area of radiation safety is exercised by the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Radiation Safety".

The Ministry of Health is responsible for ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population in terms of organization and the implementation of measures, the implementation of State control (supervision) over compliance with legislation in the field of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection is responsible for observing the pollution level of the atmospheric air, surface water, soil, atmospheric precipitation and snow cover, with the aim of identifying radioactive contamination of these environmental components resulting from the emission (discharges) of pollutants and their transboundary migration. Information about environmental pollution is provided to the State authorities, local executive and administrative bodies and the public in order to prevent and mitigate the impact of potential radiological emergency situations.

3.1.2. Licensing process

The licensing process in the area of the use of nuclear energy and sources of ionizing radiation is regulated by the following legislation:

1. Decree No. 137 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 5 April 2021 "On the regulation of activities in the field of the use of atomic energy and sources of ionizing radiation";

2. Resolution No. 558 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 6 October 2021 "On the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of April 5, 2021 No. 137";

3. Resolution No. 64 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus of 21 September 2021 "On the requirements for the composition and content of documents justifying the provision of nuclear and radiation safety".

The process of licensing activities in the area of industrial safety is regulated by the following legislation:

1. Decree No. 450 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 1 September 2010 "On the Licensing of Certain Types of Activities";

2. The Law No. 354-Z of the Republic of Belarus of 5 January 2016 "On Industrial Safety";

3. Resolution No. 614 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 5 August 2016 "On some issues of industrial safety expertise".

The licensing process in the area of security activities is regulated by the following legislation:

1. Decree No. 450 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 1 September 2010 "On the Licensing of Certain Types of Activities";

2. The Law No.175-Z of the Republic of Belarus of 8 November 2006 "On Security Activities in the Republic of Belarus".

The process of licensing activities in the area of motor transport is regulated by the following legislation:

1. Decree No. 450 of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 1 September 2010 "On the Licensing of Certain Types of Activities";

2. The Law No. 278-Z of the Republic of Belarus of 14 August 2007 "On Motor Transport and Transportation".

3.2. NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN NUCLEAR POWER

Nuclear Law:

1. The Law No. 426-Z of the Republic of Belarus of 30 July 2008 "On the Use of Atomic Energy".

Radiation Protection:

1. The Law No. 340-3 of the Republic of Belarus of 7 January 2012 "On Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare of the Public";

2. The Law No. 198-Z of the Republic of Belarus of 18 June 2019 "On Radiation Safety";

3. Resolution No. 561 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 30 April 2009 "On the National Commission of Belarus on Radiation Protection under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus".

Site Selection:

1. Technical Code of Established Practice (TCEP) 099 - 2007, Placement of nuclear power plants. Guidelines on development and content of justification of environmental safety of nuclear power plants, approved by Resolution No. 6-?/88 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 10 October 2007;

2. TCEP 101 - 2007, Placement of nuclear power plants. Procedure for development of a quality assurance programme for nuclear power station, approved by Resolution No. 35/17/86 of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Architecture and Construction and Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 10 October 2007;

3. TCEP 102 - 2007, Placement of nuclear power plants. Procedure for development of a quality assurance programme for site selection for nuclear power station, approved by Resolution No. 35/17/86 of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Architecture and Construction and Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 10 October 2007.

Transportation, storage and processing of nuclear and radioactive materials:

1. Safety rules for transportation of hazardous commodities by railroad transport on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, approved by Resolution No. 73 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 28 December 2012 (valid until July 1, 2022);

2. Safety rules for transportation of hazardous commodities by railroad transport, approved by Resolution No. 85 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 28 December 2021, will come into force July 1, 2022;

3. Safety rules for transportation of hazardous commodities by railroad transport on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, approved by Resolution No. 35 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 17 May 2021;

4. Safety rules for transportation of hazardous commodities by inland waterway transport of the Republic of Belarus, approved by Resolution No. 1 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 6 January 2009;

5. Safety rules for storage and transportation of nuclear fuel at storage and handling complexes for spent nuclear fuel, approved by Resolution No. 72 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 December 2006;

6. Safety rules for storage and transportation of nuclear fuel at the nuclear energy installations, approved by Resolution No. 72 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 December 2006;

7. Safety rules for storage and transportation of fresh fuel at nuclear facilities, approved by Resolution No. 38 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 17 May 2017;

8. Resolution No. 224 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus "On the procedure for maintaining State accounting and control of nuclear materials of the Republic of Belarus" dated 17 March 2014;

9. Resolution No. 58 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 6 September 2021 "On the procedure for conducting a periodic safety assessment of a nuclear installation and storage facility";

10. Resolution No. 59 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 6 September 2021 "On the requirements for the content of the report on the assessment of the current state of security";

11. Resolution No. 64 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 21 September 2021 "On the requirements for the composition and content of documents substantiating the provision of nuclear and radiation safety";

12. Resolution No. 42 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 16 June 2021 "On approval of norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety" (together with norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety "Nuclear Safety Rules for Reactor Installations of Nuclear Power Plants");

13. Resolution No. 26 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 22 February 2019 "On approval of norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety" (together with norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety "Safety in handling nuclear materials. Requirements for accounting and control of nuclear materials".

Physical Protection:

1. Resolution No. 385 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 14 June 2019 "Physical protection of nuclear facilities";

2. TCEP 389 - 2012, Rules for the physical protection of sources of ionizing radiation, approved by Resolution No. 31/142/20 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Security Committee dated 18 May 2012;

3. TCEP 505 - 2013, Order of interaction in the physical protection of nuclear protection systems, approved by Resolution No. 70/553/556 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Security Committee dated 19 December 2013;

4. TCEP 531 - 2014, Order for analyzing the vulnerability of nuclear facilities and assessing the effectiveness of the physical protection system, approved by Resolution No. 8/110 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Internal Affairs dated 4 April 2014;

5. Resolution No. 60 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 16 November 2019 "On approval of norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety"; (together with the norms and rules for ensuring nuclear and radiation safety "Conceptual designing of a physical protection system for nuclear facilities");

6. Resolution No. 36 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 21 September 2020 "Safety of nuclear facilities. Requirements for the quality assurance programme for the physical protection system of nuclear facilities".

Radioactive Waste Management:

1. TCEP 545 - 2014, Safety for dry storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel, approved by Resolution No. 26 of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 9 September 2014.

2. Instructions on the procedure for issuing an accompanying passport for the transport of radioactive waste, approved by Resolution No. 20 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 April 2009.

3. Form of the accompanying passport for the transport of radioactive waste, approved by Resolution No. 20 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 April 2009.

4. Instructions on the procedure for the development, coordination and approval of a radioactive waste management scheme, approved by Resolution No. 21 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 30 April 2009.

Emergency Preparedness:

1. The Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Protection of the Public and Territories in Emergency Situations of Natural and Technogenic Character" No. 141-Z of 5 May 1998;

2. Resolution No. 495 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus "On State system of prevention and liquidation of emergencies" of 10 April 2001.

APPENDIX 1: INTERNATIONAL, MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

International Agreements

Title	In force
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage	1998-05-09
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material	1993-06-14
Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident	1987-02-26
Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency	1987-02-26
Convention on Nuclear Safety	1999-01-27
Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management	2003-02-24
Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage	2003-10-04
Revised Supplementary Agreement Concerning the Provision of Technical Assistance by the IAEA	1990-06-29
Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in connection with the NPT	1995-08-02

Bilateral Agreements:

1. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of Russian Federation on cooperation and mutual assistance in prevention of large-scale man-made catastrophes and natural disasters and liquidation of their consequences of 18 December 1993;

2. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Poland on prompt notification about nuclear accidents and cooperation in the area of radiation safety of 26 October 1994;

3. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Austrian Republic on exchange of information in the area of nuclear safety and protection against ionizing radiation of 9 June 2000;

4. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine on cooperation in prevention of emergencies and liquidation of their consequences of 7 July 2000;

5. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation in the area of civil defence, prevention and liquidation of emergencies of 30 May 2001;

6. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Ukraine on prompt notification about nuclear accident and cooperation in the area of radiation safety of 16 October 2001;

7. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Latvia on cooperation in the area of prevention of catastrophes, natural disasters and other emergencies and liquidation of their consequences of 8 July 2003;

8. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Council of Swiss Confederation on cooperation in the case of natural disaster, crisis or large-scale accident of 12 September 2004;

9. Agreement between CIS Member States on the main principles of cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy of 26 June 1992;

10. Agreement between CIS Member States on cooperation in the area of prevention and liquidation of consequences of man-made and natural disasters of 22 January 1993;

11. Agreement between CIS Member States on control over transboundary movement of dangerous and other waste of 12 April 1996;

12. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the area of peaceful use of atomic energy (approved by Resolution No. 1125 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 29 August 2009);

13. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in the area of peaceful use of atomic energy (approved by Resolution No. 518 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 23 April 2009);

14. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Belarus (concluded in Minsk on 15 March 2011);

15. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the provision to the Government of the Republic of Belarus of a State export credit for the construction of a nuclear power plant (concluded in Minsk on 25 November 2011);

16. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of nuclear safety (concluded in Minsk on 1 February 2013);

17. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy (concluded in Beijing on 16 December 2008);

18. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy (concluded in Yerevan on 19 February 2016);

19. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on cooperation in the field of the peaceful uses of atomic energy (concluded in Minsk on 11 November 2016);

20. Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of electric power between the SPA Belenergo (Republic of Belarus), the RUE Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (Republic of Belarus) and the JSC STM-Power (Slovak Republic) (concluded in Minsk on 25 November 2016);

21. Memorandum between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy (concluded in Minsk on 9 July 2013);

22. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy (concluded in Minsk on 23 May 2018);

23. Memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus and the Agency for the Development of Atomic Energy under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy (concluded in Minsk on 29 November 2018).

APPENDIX 2: MAIN ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR POWER RELATED ACTIVITIES

Department of Nuclear Energy of the Ministry of Energy

14 K. Marks Str., 220030, Minsk, Belarus

Tel.: (+375 17) 218 21 98

Fax: (+375 17) 218 24 68

Email: prudnikovich@minenergo.gov.by

Web site: https://minenergo.gov.by

Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety

of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor)

16 Berson Str., 220030, Minsk, Belarus

Tel.: (+375 17) 271 45 41

Fax: (+375 17) 374 82 80

Email: gosatomnadzor@mchs.gov.by

Web site: https://gosatomnadzor.mchs.gov.by

State Production Association of the Electric Power Industry Belenergo

17 Shornaya Str., 220004, Minsk, Belarus

Tel.: (+375 17) 218 23 59

Fax: (+375 17) 218 26 39

Email: belenergo@belenergo.by

Web site: www.belenergo.by

Republican Unitary Enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear power plant construction site, 231201, Ostrovets, Grodno region

Tel.: (+375 1591) 4 53 59

Fax: (+375 1591) 4 54 00

Email: belaes@belaes.by

Web site: http://www.belaes.by

State Scientific Institution Joint Institute for Power and Nuclear Research - Sosny

of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

47/22 Prilesye district, Lugovaya Sloboda village council, Minsk district

223063 Minsk region, Republic of Belarus

Tel.: (+375 17) 374 54 48

Fax: (+375 17) 374 83 35

Email: jipnr@sosny.bas-net.by

Web site: http://sosny.bas-net.by/ru/

Coordinator information

Primary CNPP coordinator:

Mr. Yury PRUDNIKOVICH

Head of the Division of International Cooperation, Personnel Training and Information Support

Nuclear Energy Department

Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus,

Email: prudnikovich@minenergo.gov.by

Tel.: (+375 17) 218 21 98