On the 11th of August 2021, a meeting of the SNRIU’s Licensing Commission was held to consider ChNPP’s application for a license to carry out activities relating to processing and storage of radioactive waste. Based upon the results of the meeting, the Commission has recommended awarding the Chornobyl NPP with a license for the right to perform this type of activity.

The decision upon issuing the license is to be made by the SNRIU Chairperson – Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, with account taken of:

- The state expert review of nuclear and radiation safety of the package of documents, the major one being the “Safety Analysis Report for NSC-OS Operation” (NSC-OS SAR);

- The results of the inspection which has been carried out to verify the completeness and accuracy of the information contained in the submitted documents, as well as the ability of the applicant (SSE Chornobyl NPP) to carry out this type of activity;

- Compliance with the resolution of the SNRIU Board of July 29th, 2021;

- Implementation of the SNRIU Licensing Commission’s recommendations.

“Obtaining this license is extremely important for Chornobyl NPP. As a matter of fact, this means obtaining a permit for full-scale operation of the NSC CS-1, particularly for handling of the RAW being produced within Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system. Currently, the tender procedure has already started for procurement of remotely controlled tools and devices necessary to implement the pilot project on dismantling of the reinforcing beams of southern “hockey stick” panels. The NSC CS-2 design works are also in progress – such as prefeasibility study, evaluation of the condition of unstable structures to determine their possible service life, and monitoring of FCM – basically, these are the physical works related to Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system”, - commented Artem Siryi, Leading Engineer of the Object Shelter (NSC) Operation Shop.

FYI. On the 29th of July, the SNRIU Board meeting was held, which decided the following:

1. To approve the Conclusion of the state expert review of nuclear and radiation safety of the Chornobyl NPP’s “Safety Analysis Report for NSC-OS Operation” (NSC-OS SAR);

2. To instruct the RAW Management Safety Department [of the SNRIU] to complete consideration of the application and attached documents submitted by SSE Chornobyl NPP for a license to process and store the accumulated radioactive waste and the ones to be generated within Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system (operation of the OS-NSC complex facility), and taking into account the results of the discussion at the Board meeting to prepare proposals for consideration at the meeting of the SNRIU Licensing Commission within two weeks.

3. To oblige the SSE Chornobyl NPP within the terms established by the SNRIU:

- To perform/complete certain verifications and evaluations provided for in the NSC CS-1 pilot operation programme as set out in items 2.1, 2.7, 2.11, 3.2 of the NRS State Expert Review Conclusion of the “NSC-OS SAR”;

- To finalize/update the “NSC-OS SAR” taking into account all the NSC CS-1 pilot operation results and comments as set out in items 2.1, 2.5, 2.7, 2.13, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 of the NRS State Expert Review Conclusion of the “NSC-OS SAR”;

- To implement the recommendations provided for in the Inspection Act No. АІО-114/24-10 dated 14.07.2021.