Representatives of the Belarusian Nuclear Insurance Pool (RUE “Belarusian National Reinsurance Organization”, “Belgosstrakh”, “Beleximgarant”), JSC “Nuclear Insurance Broker”, JSC “SOGAZ”, JSC “Atomstroyexport” and PJSC IC “Rosgosstrakh”took part in the ICI.

The main purpose of the insurance inspection is to inspect the facilities of the Belarusian NPP and assess current and possible insurance risks for reinsurance of civil liability for nuclear damage and material damage to property, breakdowns of machinery and mechanisms.

During the three-day work, the commission heard reports from the Belarusian NPP managers, interviewed specialists and managers, and presented presentations to the ISI experts covering all areas of the nuclear power plant’s activities.

During their rounds, ISI inspectors visited the administrative, laboratory and utility building, the training center, the turbine and reactor buildings of two power units, the shelter, the building of emergency diesel generators, the fire and rescue team of the Belarusian NPP and other structures.

For each power unit, the ISI commission reviewed and analyzed information on:
– operation of the power unit, state of security systems;
– commissioning, maintenance and repair of equipment (working with contractors);
– fire risk management;
– the state of nuclear, radiation, environmental, technical and fire safety;
– organization of work with the personnel of the Belarusian NPP.

Summing up the audit results, the ISI commission noted a high level of project safety, a good indicator of implementation of the ISI recommendations, minimal impact of the enterprise on the population and the environment, a high level of cleanliness and order, staff training, and a positive attitude to partner inspections and technical support missions.

ISI expert, Inspector of the Russian Nuclear Insurance Pool V. N. Vashchilo (SOGAZ JSC) noted: “The inspection team is grateful to the management of the Belarusian NPP, responsible persons and personnel of the main divisions for the completed preparation for the ICI, providing access to the inspection members to inspect the facilities in accordance with the approved program and promptly providing information.”.

M. A. Zagvozkin, ISI Coordinator, Head of the Property Insurance Department of JSC “Atomic Insurance Broker”, summed up: “The management and specialists of the Belarusian NPP provided the necessary assistance and cooperation to the experts during the insurance inspection activities. The communication was open, frank and with due patience. Good teamwork of NPP managers and specialists was demonstrated.”

All participants of the ICI express their gratitude to the management and staff of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant and the Belarusian Nuclear Insurance Pool for their support, organization of the visit and hospitality.

Representatives of the state-owned enterprise on behalf of the Belarusian Nuclear Pool took part in the international insurance inspection of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant Branch of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC.

On October 9, 2025, the visit of the insurance inspection of 13 experts to the Balakovo NPP, consisting of representatives of the Central Office of Rosenergoatom Concern, Atomstroyexport JSC, Atomic Insurance Broker JSC, SOGAZ JSC, Russian and Belarusian national Reinsurance Companies, ended.

The main purpose of the insurance inspection is to assess current and possible insurance risks at nuclear power plants when insuring property, machinery and mechanisms against breakdowns, and civil liability for nuclear damage.

“This time, the inspection was reformatted. We have attracted specialists from other industries to evaluate and adopt positive practices and share their experiences. For the first time, it was decided to do this at the Balakovo NPP, because it was recognized as the best. There is a lot to see here,” said Vladimir Lebedev, Chief Expert of the Treasury Insurance Group of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC.

During the three-day work of the commission, the specialists of the nuclear power plant presented detailed presentations to the experts, which covered all areas of the insurers’ activities, as well as answered numerous questions.

During the rounds, international inspectors visited a full-scale simulator in the training center, turbine and reactor departments of all four power units, a storage facility for solid radioactive waste, general facilities, buildings and structures, and even a special fire and rescue unit No. 23.

At the end of the visit, the experts conducted interviews with NPP managers and specialists, following which they noted the confidence of knowledge, high involvement of staff and a broad outlook in related areas.

“A lot of work has been done in preparation for the inspection, and materials have been collected since the beginning of the year. All the inspection participants noted the high level of Balakovo NPP. Additionally, we looked at the start-up boiler room and the fire department, although this was not stated in the program. In general, the inspection was carried out at the proper level,” said Gennady Sharabanov, Deputy Director for Economics and Finance.

Summing up the inspection, the inspection commission noted the minimal level of the company’s impact on the population and the environment, a high level of cleanliness and order, staff training, equipment and industrial site conditions, and the quality of information campaigns and safety culture tools.

Cooperation on issues of interest to experts will continue remotely. The report on the results of the International Insurance Inspection will be sent to Rosenergoatom Concern JSC within three months.

The practical experience gained during this inspection will be applied in the work of the Belarusian Nuclear Insurance Pool.

Reference:
International insurance inspections are conducted at nuclear power plants every five to six years. The inspection evaluates the serviceability, condition, monitoring and protection of the main NPP systems; the state of nuclear, radiation, environmental, technical and fire safety; emergency response procedures and trainings, and much more.

The Balakovo NPP (a branch of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC in Balakovo, Saratov Region) is one of the largest and most modern Russian energy companies. Located on the left bank of the Saratov reservoir, it has four power units with upgraded VVER-1000 reactors (modification B-320) with an installed electric capacity of 1,000 MW each. The first power unit was commissioned in 1985, the second in 1987, the third in 1988 and the fourth in 1993. Electricity from the Balakovo NPP, which provides a quarter of electricity production in the Volga Federal District, is reliably provided to consumers in the Volga region, the Center, the Urals and Siberia.

The commission’s decision is based on positive conclusions of the supervisory bodies and the BelNPP working committee, as well as on the license issued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations for commercial operation of the first power unit.

The acceptance commission, which included representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Emergency Situations, State Standard, Ministry of Construction and Architecture, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Grodno Regional Executive Committee, Belenergo SPA, as well as representatives of Russian companies ASE, Atomstroyexport, Atomtehenergo, was also widely involved in the work of specialized experts and scientists.

The stage of commercial operation was preceded by a large amount of work – to check the readiness of technological systems and equipment for the development of thermal and electric capacity, to conduct the necessary tests and train the personnel.

Currently, the unit is operating at the nominal power level of the reactor unit. Since its incorporation into the unified energy system, almost 3 billion kWh of electricity has been generated.

Source: State Enterprise “Belarusian NPP

The expert group consists of 9 people. These are representatives of Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland. The group is headed by Petteri Tiippana, Director General of the Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Finland (STUK).

Experts will work at the BelNPP site on February 9-10. They will visit the plant’s facilities, get acquainted with materials that reflect information on the implementation of the activities of the national action plan based on the results of stress tests, and will also be able to ask questions to representatives of Gosatomnadzor, the Department of Nuclear Energy of the Ministry of Energy, a group of designers of ASE EC JSC and directly to specialists nuclear power plant.

Source: The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus

Period of cover: from 01.12.2019 to 30.11.2020.

Period of cover: from 19.02.2020 to 19.02.2021.

July 7, 2020, the Belarusian Nuclear Insurance Pool and the Nuclear Insurance Pool of Ukraine signed a contract on reinsurance of civil liability of the State Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP” for nuclear damage.

Under the terms of the reinsurance contract, the Belarusian Nuclear Insurance Pool takes a share in possible losses under the contract of mandatory third party liability insurance of the State Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP”.