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     The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has just finished a twelve day Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission to Belarus. The review is intended to analyze the infrastructure development of the country with respect to its first nuclear power reactor. Belarus is ready to complete the construction of its first nuclear power plant this year.
    Belarus’s first nuclear power plant will be located 80 miles north-west of Minsk, the capitol of Belarus. The Ostrovets 1 nuclear power reactor will be a VVER-1200 Russian reactor that will produce one thousand two hundred megawatts. The Ostrovets 2 reactor will be finished by 2021 and connected to the national grid. It will also be a VVER-1200 Russian reactor that produces one thousand two hundred megawatts.
   Belarus decided that it needed nuclear power in order to reduce its dependency on Russia. In order to reduce Russian dependency by twenty five percent, Belarus developed a 2011 to 2020 plan. This plan promoted the Ostrovet 1 and 2 reactors but also supported hydroelectric and wind power projects.
     Mikhail Chudakov is the IAEA deputy director- general. He said, “Developing the infrastructure required for a nuclear power program requires significant financial and human resources, and long lead times for preparation and the construction activities. Belarus has made commendable progress since the decision to launch a nuclear power program 10 years ago.”
     The IAEA utilized its Milestone approach to review the Belarus nuclear program. This approach was designed specifically to help countries develop their first nuclear program. The aim of the IAEA review is to assist states in achieving “the commitments and obligations associated with developing a nuclear power program.”
     Mikhail Mikhadyuk is the Belarus deputy energy minister. He said, “Hosting the INIR mission, Belarus demonstrated its transparency and genuine interest to receive an objective professional assessment of the readiness of its nuclear power infrastructure for the commissioning of the country’s first nuclear power plant.”
    The Barakah 1 will be the first United Arab Emirates first nuclear power plant as well as the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world. This project was developed as a joint venture between Saudi Nawah Energy and the South Korean utility company KEPCO. It will become operational and produce electricity for the national grid in the next few months. The Barakah nuclear power plant will ultimately consist of four APR-1400 nuclear power reactors which will generate a total of five thousand six hundred megawatts. The construction site is in Abu Dhabi on the coast between the Persian Gulf and the E11 highway, thirty one miles from Ruwais.
     Johnathan Cobb is the World Nuclear Association’s communication manager. He said in an interview, “With the UAE and Belarus expected to start up their first reactors this year, we are seeing the first of a new wave of countries choosing to use nuclear energy to help transition to a cleaner energy mix. They will soon be joined by reactors currently under construction in Turkey and Bangladesh, with plans for new construction well advanced in countries such as Egypt and Uzbekistan.”