Belarus checking BelNPP's readiness to accept nuclear fuel
MINSK. Feb 20 (Interfax) - A targeted check of the Belarusian NPP's readiness to accept fresh nuclear fuel has begun, according to the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Belarusian Ministry for Emergency Situations (Gosatomnadzor).
"In order to determine the Belarusian NPP's readiness to accept fresh nuclear fuel and assess the compliance of the organizational and technical decisions taken by the plant with regulations, including technical regulations concerning nuclear and radiation safety, and their ability to handle nuclear fuel, Gosatomnadzor launched a relevant targeted inspection on February 17," the statement reads.
An ad hoc working group is carrying out the inspection. By law, it should be completed within 30 days.
Belarus is building the nuclear power plant near the town of Ostrovets in the Grodno Region on the basis of the Russian VVER-1200 design. The power plant will have two 1,200MW reactor units. According to the Belarusian Energy Ministry, the first reactor unit will be commissioned in 2020 and the other in 2021. Rosatom's Atomstroyexport is the general contractor for the project.