House of Representatives adopts law on nuclear energy

The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus passed the second reading of the bill on nuclear power on June 24.

Presenting the document, Evgeny Kazimirchik, a member of the Permanent Commission for Industry, Fuel and Energy Industry, Transport, Communications and Business, noted that the document introduced fundamental principles in using nuclear power. These principles include the priority of life and health protection of the present and future generations, environment protection over all other aspects of the activity relating to the use of nuclear energy. According to the law, the benefits to citizens and society from utilizing nuclear energy should outstrip the damage as a result of this activity.

The document also contains the principle of providing full, trustworthy and timely information about the use of nuclear power if this information does not contain state secrets.

The document also secures the principle of prohibition of production of nuclear weapon and other nuclear explosive devices.

The law fixes the authorities of the state bodies in the field of the use of nuclear power. The document identifies the state bodies which regulate the security while using the nuclear power.

The document also spells out requirements for designing, constructing and commissioning of nuclear facilities. It secures the requirements aimed at ensuring nuclear security including physical protection of nuclear facilities.