EU regulatory experts supported the Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), including the
Department on Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor). MES also included the following
subordinated institutes and teams, involved in this project:

• Institute for Retraining and Professional Development (IRPD),
• Research Institute of Fire Safety and Emergencies (RIFSE),
• Gomel Engineering Institute (GEI),
• Command Engineering Institute (CEI), and
• Republican Special Response Team (RSRT).

The overall objective of the cooperation, of which this project was part, is the transfer of
European
regulatory methodology and practices to the nuclear safety authorities of Belarus especially
related institutional and technical cooperation with Gosatomnadzor to develop its capabilities on
the basis of transferred European safety principles and practices. Its wider objective is to
strengthen the national nuclear safety and radiation protection regulatory system in Belarus.

The specific objectives to enhance and to strengthen the competences and practices of the project
were:

•  Development and establishment of a regulatory strategy, a corresponding action plan and
cooperation plan, especially in the field of capacity building for the enhancement of the NRA,
including an overview of the present situation in Belarus,

•  Development of a legislative framework in the field of nuclear safety,

•  Licensing support in the field of nuclear safety for the development of the regulatory body and
its functions,

• Organising and performing training of the regulatory authority personnel,

• Training of the staff of educational institutions of MES,

•  Procurement of equipment in the field of radiation safety and emergency preparedness,
•  Participation of experts of MES/Gosatomnadzor in international conferences.

The activities performed and results achieved in each of the technical tasks can be summarised as
follows:

Task 1: Gosatomnadzor was supported to achieve their strategic objectives in a more effective and
timely manner.
As a result of the Task 1 activities, the finalised document "Strategy, Action Plan and Cooperation
Plan of Capacity Building to Enhance Gosatomnadzor of the Ministry for Emergency Situations"
(dated 05 March2012) was issued. The strategy provides a clear orientation for staff development in
the period 2012-2016 and further to 2020 with a corresponding action plan and cooperation plan
(2012-2016).

Task 2: The activities supported the beneficiary in the further development of its regulatory
organisation and regulations in Belarus. Three workshops have been performed along the GAN
working process. These workshops were organised in parallel to Task 3 activities in order to provide
better cooperation and overview on legislation and regulatory practices. The work started with
external reviews by EU expert organisations where nuclear legislation and technical regulations as
well as the regulatory organisation in Belarus were reviewed. In the second phase, GAN performed
its own self-assessment work on the basis of comments of the consultant. GAN developed a
regulatory strategy and corresponding action plans for further development of the regulatory
organisation and regulations in the third phase (activities mainly performed in Task 1). During the
project, a process to develop safety related regulations for nuclear power plants in Belarus have
been strengthened.

Task 3: Technical support was provided to the beneficiary in reviewing the current status and
further developing the licensing process of the first Belarusian NPP to be constructed as well as in
reviewing and assessment activities of safety related documentation (PSAR) for the new NPP. In
parallel with Task 2 activities, six workshops were organised based on the agreed work plan and
upon request by the beneficiary due to urgent actual needs of Gosatomnadzor.

Task 4: Technical support to the beneficiary to ensure a quality and efficient fulfilment of
Gosatomnadzor duties was provided. One meeting to develop a training plan for the professional
development of Gosatomnadzor was organised. Seven training sessions to strengthen the
capabilities of the regulatory authority personnel as well as of the staff of its main TSO in the areas
of quality assurance of equipment and systems design and manufacture in the space of the
licensing process, accident analysis with the use of computer codes as well as regulatory role in
NPP projects were successfully performed. Finally a technical report was drafted.

Task 5: Technical support was given to the beneficiary to improve its capacities in accident
assessment and emergency preparedness taking into account the wishes and needs of Belarusian
specialists. International experience and practice in nuclear safety features was transferred to the
beneficiary by performing two workshops including practical sessions. Training material was
provided.

Task 6: Technical support was provided to the beneficiary for the procurement of modern radiation
measurement devices under a separate contract (BE-RA-06E) following standard EC procurement
rules. The technical specifications to the procurement were provided according to the requirements.
Since none of the submitted tenders were compliant with the criteria of the tender evaluation, the
tender procedure has been unsuccessful. As no equipment had been procured, a second technical
workshop aimed at assistance during commissioning and first provisional acceptance was
cancelled.

Task 7: Assistance was given to the beneficiary in order to enhance comprehensive knowledge
about international activities in the nuclear regulatory area. The participation of eight Belarusian
experts in four different conferences was organised. The conferences also provided an opportunity
for fruitful discussions with Western experts in this area. The Belarusian experts received
conference materials and publications.

With a view on the planning of an Belarusian NPP this INSC project represented a new phase of the
transfer of European regulatory methodology and practices to the nuclear safety authorities of
Belarus especially related institutional and technical cooperation with Gosatomnadzor to develop its
capabilities on the basis of transferred European safety principles and practices. Further support
activities are recommended and strongly needed.