Emergencies Ministry Issued BelNPP Permission to Launch the First Unit

International experts have repeatedly warned about the danger of the Astravets nuclear power plant.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant has received permission to carry out the staged program of the energy start-up of power unit No. 1, reports interfax.by with reference to the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (Gosatomnadzor) of Belarus.

"On October 23, the collegium of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus made a positive decision on amending the license of the State Enterprise Belarusian NPP for the right to carry out activities in the field of the use of atomic energy and sources of ionizing radiation, allowing to begin the implementation of the stage program of the energy start-up of power unit No. 1," said in a message on the department's website.

They noted that this decision is based on the conclusion of Gosatomnadzor, which, in accordance with the current legislation, reviewed the results of the examination of documents justifying safety and checked the readiness of the Belarusian NPP to perform the declared activities.

The power start-up of the first power unit of the BelNPP is scheduled for November 7; its commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021. The second power unit is planned to be commissioned in 2022.

International experts have repeatedly warned about the danger of the Astravets nuclear power plant.