“For Belarus that is building its first nuclear power plant it is of high importance to secure the nuclear safety of the facility at every stage of its operation, including the choice of the site for its construction. Nuclear security is our number one priority. Here we actively use the potential of international cooperation, and, first of all, the cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.

According to the deputy minister, Belarus makes the full use of all the instruments the IAEA provides to countries that launch nuclear energy programs. “Over years we have been cooperating with the agency under technical cooperation programs, implementing projects in training specialists for the nuclear power industry, strengthening the potential of the operating organization, developing the nuclear safety culture, handling radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, cooperating on many other areas,” he explained. An IAEA seminar is scheduled in Ostrovets this week to discuss radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management.

Mikhail Mikhadyuk added that IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who has visited Belarus twice, including the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in April 2016, hailed fruitful cooperation between Belarus and the IAEA.