On 14 December, in the presence of the IAEA inspectors, the second double-walled canister filled with spent nuclear fuel was loaded into the concrete storage module (CSM) at ISF-2 site for long term storage. Upon the completion of the transfer and loading process, the IAEA inspectors put their seal to the loaded CSM cell.

“During the “hot tests” at ISF-2, 186 spent fuel assemblies were transferred to the facility, processed and placed to the storage area. Consequently, we have performed all the scheduled operations with SFAs provided for by the ISF-2 Commissioning Programme”, - said ChNPP’s Acting Director General Volodymyr Pieskov.

Successful performance of all the “hot tests” stages demonstrates that the spent nuclear fuel management process in Ukraine can comply with the strict up-to-date IAEA requirements and ensure environmental safety of areas where this process is taking place.

The license for ISF-2 operation is scheduled to be issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine in April 2021, following review and approval of the Safety Analysis Report which is to be prepared based on the “hot test” results.
FYI

Over the period of power generation from 1977 to 2000 the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant has accumulated over 21 thousand spent fuel assemblies, which are currently stored in the "wet" type Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISF-1). This facility is not designed for long-term storage of spent fuel and its operating lifetime is limited, therefore all the spent fuel assemblies should be transferred to the newly constructed dry type Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISF-2).