Alexey Aleshin held a meeting with the Head of Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus

On September 22, 2014, in the course of the 58^th IAEA General Conference, which opened in Vienna, a meeting was held between the Chairman of Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor) Alexey Aleshin and the Head of Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor of Republic of Belarus) Olga Lugovskaya.

During the opening session, Aleksey Aleshin introduced Deputy Chairman, Alexey Ferapontov, who will be responsible for nuclear and radiation safety regulation issues in Rostechnadzor from now on. Previously, it was Valery Bezzubtsev, who dealt with that matters but now he moved to other job.

“We have special relationships with Belarus. The last week, the Government of the Russian Federation ordered Rostechnadzor, alongside with other Russian ministries and agencies involved, to consider and agree a draft list of priority areas and primary objectives of further development for the Union State for the mid-term up to 2017”, said the Rostechnadzor’s Chairman.

According to him, this list provides for joint development, approval, and implementation by Rostechnadzor, Gosatomnadzor and other authorities of both Russia and Belarus, of Union State program concerning nuclear and radiation safety issues. “On my part, I confirm readiness of Rostechnadzor to launch this work. I suggest our technical experts elaborate the draft program developed by Gosatomnadzor”, emphasized Aleshin.

In a recent letter from Gosatomnadzor it was also proposed to touch upon, during today’s talks, the issue of improving of legal framework of nuclear and radiation safety regulation. “I don’t see any obstacles that can hinder our joint work in that area. Currently, Rostechnadzor is reviewing a number of federal standards and rules in the field of atomic energy use, and developing safety guides. We are ready to work in that important area together with our Belorussian colleagues”, he added.

“I suggest organizing a meeting of our experts to discuss the Union State draft program concerning nuclear and radiation safety, coupled with more detailed discussion of further development of the interagency cooperation between Rostechnadzor and Gosatomnadzor of Republic of Belarus”, - mentioned Aleshin.

Lugovskaya, in her turn, highly appreciated the cooperation between the Belorussian authority and Rostechnadzor. She told that in the period of 2-19 September 2014, nine experts from Gosatomnadzor and other authorities, as observers, took part in the inspection of the capital construction object Leningradskaya NPP-2. “We are facing much tension around the issue of inspectors training; that is the reason why we would like to thank you for the help and sharing your experience, which is vital for us”, said she. Furthermore, Lugovskaya spoke in praise of the joint cooperation between Gosatomnadzor of Republic of Belarus and Rostechnadzor in regard of preparation of the Union State program concerning nuclear and radiation safety.

Rostechnadzor shows strong support to Gosatomnadzor of Republic of Belarus. Experts of the both authorities continuously exchange experience and conduct meetings on a regular basis. On December 20, 2013, in Minsk, the parties signed up Agreement between the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostechnadzor) and the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus on Cooperation in the field of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Regulation in the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy.