OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus has chosen the preferential reactor type for the future nuclear power plant, Alexander Mikhalevich, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, told a press conference in Minsk on April 25.

He remarked, defining the reactor type for the future atomic station had been an important task and relevant scientific efforts had been completed. “We have a third-generation evolutionary type reactor in mind — a water-cooled power reactor,” said Alexander Mikhalevich. He noted, this equipment has been used across the world for ten years and such reactors account for over 80% of the total existing reactors.

Belarus will use only tried and tested technologies to build the atomic station, no experimental equipment will be used, added the academician.

In his words, Russia is currently designing a third-plus generation reactor, but Belarusian scientists believe the construction of third-generation power units, which have been widely time-tested, in Belarus is more advisable. “We should build the most reliable power unit,” stressed Alexander Mikhalevich.

Preparations for building the atomic station in Belarus follow international standards and the strictest regulations regarding the safety and reliability of the future station are applied. In particular, strict criteria are used to choose the location of the station and in other parts of the project.

According to Alexander Mikhalevich, special attention will be paid to controlling the quality of the supplied equipment, including control during equipment transportation. The station’s environmental impact will be monitored throughout the construction process.

The necessary legal regulations concerning nuclear power engineering are being created in Belarus. For example, a nuclear energy use bill has been prepared. Apart from that, around 120 normative documents are supposed to regulate this area.