Construction of a radioactive waste disposal facility is planned in Belarus
A project to build a modern radioactive waste disposal facility is planned to be implemented in the Republic of Belarus.
A site for its placement is currently being selected. Three potential territories are being considered:
- the site near Ostrovets in the immediate vicinity of the Belarusian nuclear power plant;
- the territory of the Polessky Radiation and Ecological Reserve, which was polluted due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant;
- the site in the Mogilev region.
From August to September 2026, an open public discussion of the facility’s location options will be organized in three potential territories. A final decision on the choice of a site for the construction of a radioactive waste disposal facility is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
After the site is identified, the development of the architectural project will begin. Construction and installation work is scheduled for 2028 and will be carried out in parallel with the design. The area considered for the facility ranges from 50 to 100 hectares. One third of the territory will be allocated directly for storage, and the rest of the space will be occupied by production and technological facilities, including energy and automated systems, as well as infrastructure related to the use of artificial intelligence technologies.
Special attention will be paid to environmental safety issues. After selecting a site and identifying technological solutions, a comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be carried out. The priority is to ensure radiation safety at the facility itself, since permanent work activities will be carried out on its territory. Additionally, external factors that may affect the operation of the facility will be analyzed.
To ensure comprehensive monitoring, timely response and transparency of all processes related to the safe management of radioactive waste, the radiation monitoring system will be integrated into the national environmental monitoring system.
The creation of a national infrastructure for the safe management of radioactive waste contributes to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 11, 12 and the other SDGs.