Environmental issues in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the nuclear power programme of the Republic of Belarus tel.: +375 17 218 21 15 e-mail: dulinets@min.energo.by
Outline Self-evaluation of the Status of National Nuclear Infrastructure Development Environmental issues in Phase 1 of the nuclear power project Environmental issues in Phase 2 of the nuclear power project Environmental issues in Phase 3 of the nuclear power project (next steps)
Regarding the concept of energy security of the Republic of Belarus approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus 433 of September 17, 2007, besides other relating activities two nuclear power plant units with total power capacity of 2000 MW are planned to put into operation by 2020. This is done for strengthening national energy security and for diversification of energy resources.
Self-evaluation of the Status of National Nuclear Infrastructure Development Regarding the IAEA recommendations a country that plans to implement nuclear energy program has to assess national infrastructure preparedness for the construction of the first nuclear power plant, i.e. to perform so-called selfevaluation. To evaluate preparedness of national infrastructure for nuclear energy the Expert Coordination Group was formed. Based on the IAEA documents NG-G-3.1 «Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power» and NG-T-3.2 «Evaluation of the Status of National Infrastructure Development» the Coordination Group has prepared a report on evaluation of national nuclear infrastructure of the Republic of Belarus for milestones 1 and 2.
Summary of evaluation results (Q4 2011) Issues Milestone 1 Milestone 2 1. National Position No Actions 2. Nuclear Safety 3. Management No Actions 4. Funding and Financing 5. Legislative Framework No Actions 6. Safeguards No Actions 7. Regulatory Framework No Actions Significant Action 10. Human Resources No Actions 11. Stakeholder Involvement 12. Site and supporting facilities 13. Environmental Protection 14. Emergency Planning No Actions No Actions No Actions 15. Security 16. Nuclear Fuel Cycle 17. Radioactive Waste Significant Action No Actions Significant Action 8. Radiation Protection 18. Industrial Involvement 9. Electrical Grid Significant Action 19. Procurement No Actions No Actions
Milestone 1: Ready to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear programme Plan of Main Preparation Activities (approved by Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus) : selection of future NPP design development of legislative framework, communication with mass media and the public, training of human resources for nuclear power sector, study of international experience related to nuclear power and advanced technologies, research and surveys aimed at NPP siting, the potential environmental impacts, land use, water use and environmental effects to cover nuclear facility construction and operation etc.
Milestone 1 Environmental law, other legal acts and technical normative acts have been developed and adopted to cover nuclear facility construction and operation Law of the Republic of Belarus «On the use of atomic energy» The Law of the Republic of Belarus On environmental protection The Law of the Republic of Belarus On protection of atmospheric air The Water Code of the Republic of Belarus The Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus On the National System of Environmental Monitoring in the Republic of Belarus Provision on the procedure of monitoring of animal world, radiation monitoring and the use of these monitoring as a part of the National system of Environmental Monitoring in the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus; Instruction on the procedure of environmental impact assessment of the planned economic and other activity in the Republic of Belarus approved by the order of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Belarus etc
Milestone 1 organizational structure responsible for environmental protection The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry of Emergencies Ministry of Health Ministry of Energy Committee on Standardization etc
Milestone 1 organizational structure responsible for environmental protection The main areas of activities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection are as follows: Pursuing unified state policies, including economic and sci-tech ones, in the area of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, hydrometeorological activities, ecological certification and ecological audit; State management of examination, protection, reproduction and rational use of natural resources, including mineral resources, waters, animals and plants; environmental protection; state regulation of hydrometeorology, ecological certification and audit; Regulation and coordination of activities of other governmental agencies, local executive and regulatory bodies, organizations involved in ensuring ecological safety, environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, including mineral resources, hydrometeorological activities, climate control, ecological certification and ecological audit; State regulation of geological exploration of surface resources and hydrometeorological activities, support and promotion of all types of organizations involved in the above-noted economic activities; State control in the area of environmental protection and hydrometeorological activities, ecological certification and audit; Informing governmental agencies, local executive and regulatory bodies, and individuals on environmental issues; raising environmental awareness; promotion of environmental education.
Milestone 1 NPP SITES SELECTION Work on the possible deployment of nuclear power plants in the country were carried out in the 90s Research and examination showed that the Republic of Belarus has sites for Nuclear power plant construction. 50% of the country was excluded from consideration taking into account the network of airline routes, oil and gas pipelines. 54 areas were considered in the remaining territory. As a result of deeper research 15 sites were accepted for consideration Based on the analysis of hydrologic, seismotectonic, ecological, aerometeorological, radiological, engineering geological factors, land use conditions and additional reconnaissance works, the following three perspective sites for detailed examination were determined: Krasnopolyanskaya site (Bykhov point); Kukshinovskaya site (Shklov-Goretsk point); Ostrovets site (Ostrovets point).
Potential sites for Nuclear Power Plant construction on the territory of the Republic of Belarus Ostrovets point Smorgon 23 km Naroch 20 km Molodechno 40 km Grodno Ostrovets point Minsk Vitebsk Kuckshinovsk site Kuckshinovsk site Orsha 30 km Mogilev 53 km Gorki 15 km Shklov 33 km Mogilev Krasnopolyansk site Brest Gomel Krasnopolyansk site Mogilev 40 km Chausu 28 km Buchov 35 km Slavgorod 25 km
Milestone 1 Stakeholder involvement Information about the necessity of NPP construction to ensure energy security is regularly broadcast on television, on the radio, and is also issued on newspaper and Internet pages of leading information agencies; The information center of development of nuclear energy was established in «International center of information integration. Public press centre of House of printed media» in Minsk. The center holds panel discussions with mass media representatives, scientists and experts in nuclear energy, it holds field training seminars for regional public communication officials, informative actions for children and other media activities; The Ministry of Energy jointly with the Ministry of Information, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and other organizations involved in implementation of the national nuclear power program give explanations to inquiries from the public about the NPP construction on a regular basis. For conducting surveys of public opinion in order to study tendencies of its changes concerning issues on energy development including nuclear energy development, the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of sciences of the Republic of Belarus regularly conduct Gallup polls that showed increasing quantity of nuclear energy supporters in our country.
Milestone 2: Ready to invite bids for the first nuclear power plant In January 2009, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus approved the Master Plan of Key Organizational Measures for Construction of the Nuclear Power Plant in the Republic of Belarus. This plan determines: the stages and timeframes of design works, scientific support activities, human resources training, development of legal framework, development of engineering and social infrastructure for the NPP construction, communication with the mass media and public, study of international experience related to nuclear power and advanced technologies, environmental issues NPP sites selection
Milestone 2 NPP SITES SELECTION Site selection for the NPP in the Republic of Belarus was carried out in accordance with: Law of the Republic of Belarus «On the Use of Atomic Energy»; Technical Code 097-2007 (2300) «Siting of Nuclear Power Plants. Main Criteria and Requirements for Ensuring Safety»; Technical Code 098-2007 (02250/02300) «Siting of Nuclear Power Plants. Main Requirements for Types and Scopes of Surveys and Research When Selecting the NPP Site and Location»; Technical Code 099-2007 (02120/02300) «Siting of Nuclear Power Plants. Guidance for Development and Contents of the Environmental Safety Justification of Nuclear Power Plants». Technical Code 101-2007 (02230/02250/02300) «Siting of Nuclear Power Plants. Procedure of Development of the General Program of Quality Assurance for Nuclear Power Plant»; Technical Code 102-2007 (02230/02250/02300) «Siting of Nuclear Power Plants. Procedure of Development of the General Program for Nuclear Power Plant Site Selection».
Milestone 2 NPP SITES SELECTION The final statement (report) on selection of the priority site for possible NPP location in the Republic of Belarus has been prepared. Act on Selection of Land Plot for Construction of 20.12.2008 has been adopted based on the decision of the State commission on selection of a land plot for the NPP construction in the Republic of Belarus. In accordance with contract for development of justification of investment to NPP construction in the Republic of Belarus between the the Directorate of Nuclear Power Plant Construction and the Research and Design Institute Belnipienrgoprom the latter was assigned responsible for preparation of the report on environmental impact assessment for a specific site and unit design. Having considered the choice of first priority site for NPP construction in 2008 General designer «Belnipienergoprom» with Belarusian specialized organizations participating (14 in total) developed investment justification for NPP construction, that includes report «Environmental impact assessment for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Belarus» (EIA).
Milestone 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT The public was informed about potential effect of the Belarusian NPP on the environment The preliminary EIA report and other environmentally significant information in the Russian and English languages were posted at on the web sites of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Energy, Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, Grodno Regional Executive Committee Public hearings were organized on October 9, 2009, in Ostrovets In the course of 2009 public hearings were held in labor collectives and public associations over the country to discuss the preliminary EIA report The public of Belarus had the possibility to express its opinion related to the NPP construction by electronic means, applications in writing/oral
Milestone 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT In accordance with the scope of the Convention on environmental impact assessment in transboundary context (Espoo convention) In June 2008 Belarus sent to all its neighboring states a letter with preliminary information about its intention to construct the NPP with total power capacity output of 2000 MW and commissioning of the first unit in 2016 without specifying a possible NPP location In August 2009 Belarus notified all the Affected Parties about the planned activity, EIA process, process of participation and consultations, and brief information about the EIA In September 2009 Belarus provided all Affected Parties with the EIA documentation, namely a preliminary EIA report. The EIA documentation contained analysis of three alternative NPP sites In July 2010 Belarus developed the final EIA report taking into account the results of public hearings and consultations (comments from the public and Affected Parties) and initiated the internal procedures to prepare the final decision In February 2011, Belarus submitted the final EIA report to all Affected Parties for comments In July 2011, Belarus informed all Affected Parties about the completion of the discussions and consultations on the final EIA report and its approval In September 2011, Belarus informed all Affected Parties about adoption of the final decision.
Milestone 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT EIA Report was adopted by the State ecological expertise of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, dated July 13, 2010, No. 28 Justification of Investments into Nuclear Power Plant Сconstruction in the Republic of Belarus was approved by a qualified opinion of Glavstroyekspertisa dated July 14, 2010, No. 14-17/10 Justification of Investments into Nuclear Power Plant construction in the Republic of Belarus, included EIA report, was adopted by the Resolution of the Ministry of Energy dated July 12, 20011, No. 32 The President of the Republic of Belarus signed the Order On Construction and Design of Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus, dated September 15, 2011, No. 418.
Milestone 2 Monitoring and control in the NPP observation area The key principles of radiation and environmental monitoring and control in the NPP observation area have been developed: location of automation radiation control system points in the 30 km area around the NPP principles and system of radiation monitoring in the NPP observation area will be an integral part of the National Environment Monitoring System in the Republic of Belarus and will be regulated with the relevant legal acts in the territory of Belarus there are 4 automated systems of radiation control in the observation areas of the NPPs located in the territories of the neighboring countries. qualified personnel working in the National Environment Monitoring System, including radiation monitoring, is available.
Milestone 2 Monitoring and control in the NPP observation area The most typical scenarios of development of radiation and environmental conditions for standard and accident-related releases have been determined Proposals on radiation and environmental monitoring in the NPP area were developed It is proposed to improve further the monitoring system with the use of GIS technologies (GIS geographical information system) and models of radioactive contamination transfer in various components of the environment under standard and accidentrelated releases Ways of contamination transfer in the environment have been determined and characterized
Milestone 2 Stakeholder involvement The Information Center started working in 2009 in State Institution «Directorate for NPP Construction» in Ostrovets (Grodno region) Action Plan on arrangement the information activities related to development of nuclear power sector in the Republic of Belarus for 2008-2012 approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus Information on preparatory works for NPP construction is regularly broadcast on television, on the radio, and is also issued on newspaper and Internet pages of leading informational agencies.
Milestone 3 readiness to commission and operate the nuclear power plant (the next steps) Environmental laws and regulations will be a part of the licensing process for the site and the nuclear power plant construction and operation. Programs for monitoring and assessment should be fully implemented. Conditions that should have been established or are under way include: Identification of specific environmental requirements and their inclusion in the licensing conditions for facility operation; Complete characterization of the site and its surroundings to create a baseline condition; Development and full implementation of environmental monitoring programs in accordance with international standards.
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