The European Union’s energy commissioner said on Monday that officials will visit Belarus this week to carry out a previously planned safety review of the nation’s new Belarusian nuclear power station, which has two Russia-supplied units on the verge of commercial operation.

Kadri Simson announced that officials from the European Commission will take part in the review, which includes virtual meetings and a visit to the facility to check compliance with the recommendations from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (Enseg). Experts from Ensreg, an independent advisory body made up of senior regulatory officials, will also join the review.

“The peer review… should be completed as quickly as possible and throughout the process leading to the commissioning of the plant the highest safety standards must be ensured,” said Ms Simson. Findings will be published in early 2021, she said.

The Belarusian energy ministry said on Monday that the visit was announced in October and is part of a peer review of the nation’s plan of actions following stress tests. The visit to the plant will take place from December 16-18, according to the ministry.