Belarus needs a regulatory system covering the construction and operation of its first nuclear power plant, an International Atomic Energy Agency expert says.

"The question of critical importance is the creation of a strong regulatory body," Donald Kovacic, part of an IAEA mission visiting Belarus, said Friday.

The mission has been in the country to offer recommendations for Belarus's nascent nuclear infrastructure, RIA Novosti reported.

Belarus has signed a contract with Russia for the construction of a nuclear power plant to be built by 2018, followed by a second one by 2020.

IAEA Deputy Director Alexander Bychkov said the agency has also recommended an improved legal framework covering the handling of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.