On 26 August, physical works on the ‘hot’ testing stage 3 of the Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management (ICSRM) were completed.
“Successful completion of testing is a very important step in the activity of Chornobyl NPP, — comments on the testing results Deputy Head of the ChNPP’s Radwaste Management Shop (for RW processing), Mr Illia Shumkov. ‘Hot’ testing is always quite a difficult process, which is preceded by a large volume of preparatory technical and paper work. Let me remind that we call ‘hot’ tests the testing which is conducted in the conditions which are similar as much as possible to the real operating conditions of the facility. During ‘hot’ testing, the staff and equipment work with the real radioactive materials. Beside other things, the 3rd stage of hot testing was more complicated because of the occupation of the plant and the connected suspension of the licenses for this activity.
After the license was resumed for the activity on “processing and storage of radioactive waste” (commissioning of the Solid RW Retrieval Facility (SRWRF) and Solid RW Processing Plant (SRWPP) of the ICSRM), the staff successfully conducted the final stage of physical works on the 3rd stage of comprehensive commissioning (‘hot’) testing of SRWRF and SRWPP. As of today, all physical works have been done, the purpose and tasks of the commissioning programme accomplished.
Currently, we are making the Report on the results of testing which is the main document that will form the basis of the package of documents for obtaining a license for the operation of SRWRF and SRWPP. This License will in turn give “green light” to start processing of the solid radioactive waste”.
Let us remind, that according to the preliminary estimates, the projected amount of radioactive waste from ChNPP and Shelter decommissioning and their transformation into an environmentally safe system makes about 180,000 m3 which is approximately equal to 70 Olympic swimming pools, with the share of solid waste about 140,000 m3.
FYI:
ICSRM is the complex of facilities designed for receiving, processing and/or disposal of the solid radioactive waste accumulated during ChNPP operation and decommissioning, as well as operational radioactive waste of the Shelter facility.