Belarus gets organized for nuclear plant

Alexander Lukashenko, President of
Belarus, signed a decree on 12 November defining the organizations
responsible for preparing the construction of the country's first
nuclear power plant. Decree 565, 'On Certain Measures Relating to the
Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant' also aims to ensure that nuclear
and radiation safety is in line with the recommendations of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to the decree, a
Directorate for the Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant will be
established under the Ministry of Energy. This new directorate will
oversee the preparation, design and exploration work necessary to build
a plant. A Nuclear & Radiation Safety Department will also be set
up as part of the Emergencies Ministry to act as the state nuclear
regulator and licensing authority. Scientific support for the
preparation and construction of a nuclear power plant will be provided
by the United Power & Nuclear Research Institute Sosny of the
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The state-run
Belnipienergoprom enterprise has been designated as the general
designer of the plant and will be responsible for negotiating and
signing contracts with suppliers of engineering services, carrying out
the necessary feasibility studies and preparing tender documents.
Belarus plans to start construction of a nuclear power plant in 2008 to
ensure energy security, according to Lukashenko. No site has yet been
selected for the plant, which will cost between $2.5 billion and $2.8
billion to construct. The plant, expected to take four to eight years
to build, would mainly be funded through external borrowing.
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