The parliamentarians discussed results of implementation of the key guidelines on implementing the provisions of the Union State Foundation Treaty, in particular, the part dealing with ensuring reliable and safe operation of nuclear energy installations. The commission noted the effectiveness of the chosen approach to joint work. Building on the results achieved, the ministries and government agencies of Belarus and Russia were recommended to approve four new Union State projects in the field of radioactive waste management for the period of 2026–2029.
These include projects to develop and manufacture a prototype of a mobile multifunctional complex for the extraction, sorting, and packaging of radioactive waste, the development of a virtual simulator for training personnel at all stages of radioactive waste management, research into the properties of polymer-composite materials to ensure safety when creating disposal sites or preserving radioactive waste storage facilities, and the creation of a unified foundation of standards in the field of radioactive waste management for the Union State. The Russian state corporation Rosatom was instructed to submit project proposals to the Energy Industry Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Standing Committee of the Union State by 18 April 2026 along with information about the progress of their approval by the relevant ministries and government agencies.
Special attention was paid at the commission session to matters related to the operation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. «The safe operation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is an absolute priority. A multi-level system of measures has been established, covering all aspects of the facility’s operation. This comprehensive approach is based on the strictest international standards, national legislation, and cutting-edge technologies. The main efforts are focused on ensuring the radiation safety of the personnel, the population, and the environment,» said Ilya Ikan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Energy Industry Commission.
Scientific and technical support for the operation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is provided by leading industry-specific organizations and research centers in the two countries. «This includes continuous analysis of equipment condition as well as the development and implementation of recommendations for its modernization and the optimization of operating modes. This is a continuous process that allows identifying potential risks and implementing preventive measures in advance, thus ensuring the facility’s compliance with all safety requirements,» noted the committee chairman.
Technical support for the operation of the nuclear power plant is a system for rapid response and resolution of issues arising in connection with the plant’s operation. Technical consultations, the development of temporary instructions and methodological guidelines — all these measures are aimed at maintaining the stable and safe operation of all systems and components of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Particular attention is paid to the training and advanced training of the personnel, which is an integral part of the work to ensure the reliable and safe operation of the power plant.
«On the whole, the safe operation of the Belarusian nuclear power plant is ensured through the synergy of scientific and technical guidance and technical support. Backed by strict oversight and continuous improvement, this mechanism should guarantee a high level of safety and reliability throughout the plant’s entire lifecycle,» concluded Ilya Ikan.
Participants of the session also discussed matters related to interaction between ministries and government agencies of Belarus and Russia in the process of designing nuclear power facilities and managing radioactive waste. The MPs noted that the global practice and the Russian one show that during the initial period of operation of nuclear power plant units the operating enterprise requires the assistance of specialized organizations with experience in preparing and carrying out scheduled preventive maintenance of nuclear power plant units. At the Belarusian nuclear power plant this work is done in accordance with a contract with AO Rosatom Service. The contract provides for scientific and technical support for the use of nuclear fuel as well as consulting services on preparing to decommission power units, including methodological support.
The parliamentarians noted that a methodology had been developed to determine the types, quantities, and activity levels of recycled products to be returned to Belarus following the technological storage and processing of the Belarusian nuclear power plant’s spent nuclear fuel in Russia. The work was carried out in close cooperation with Russian organizations. The methodology has been approved by regulatory bodies and agreed upon by the competent government agencies of both countries.
Ministries and government agencies are recommended to continue work on the reprocessing, storage, and disposal of radioactive waste as well as on assessing the acceptance criteria for spent nuclear fuel from the Belarusian nuclear power plant and radioactive waste that will be returned to Belarus after processing in Russia. The progress of these tasks will be reviewed at the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly’s commission.
Today’s session of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Energy Industry Commission was attended by the commission’s Chairman Ilya Ikan, Deputy Chairman Pavel Zavalny, and the commission members Vitaly Utkin and Galina Khovanskaya. Representatives of the energy ministries of Belarus and Russia, the Emergencies Ministry of Belarus, the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological, and Nuclear Supervision, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the national research center Kurchatov Institute, the state corporation Rosatom, and the Belarusian State Technological University also took part in the session.
