Over several days, works on mine detection were carried out at the Chornobyl NPP site. They were being done by servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine with the involvement of experts on radiochemical protection of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
As of 05 May 2022, these works have been completed.
During 1-2 May 2022, personnel of the NSC (Objects Shelter) Operation Shop successfully carried out dust-suppression works (feeding of localizing dust-suppressing solution (DSS) AK-510 into the space under the Shelter’s roof) using the Upgraded dust-suppression system.
These works included making the dust-suppression formula and rinsing solution, analyzing the content of Gadolinium in the rinsing solution, testing (determining the viscosity) of dust-suppression solution, feed in of the solution into the working area of the system, washing of pipelines and injectors with the rinsing solution followed by draining of the residues of the composition and rinsing solution into the drain tank. All works have been performed by staff according to the “Operating Instructions for the Upgraded Dust Suppressions System”.
On 26th of April 2022, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) made a decision to suspend some licenses that actually stops implementation of activities on Units 1, 2 and 3 decommissioning, activities at radioactive waste management facilities and some types of activity in the use of nuclear energy.
In particular, this refers to the suspension of the following licenses:
— No. ЕО 000040 — for the right to implement activities at a lifecycle stage “decommissioning” of Chornobyl NPP Units 1, 2, 3.
— No. ОВ 001092 — for the right to implement activities “processing, storage of radioactive waste” (operation of the Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant (LRTP)).
— No. ОВ 001094 — for the right to implement activities “processing, storage of radioactive waste” (operation of NSC-SO complex).
— No. ОВ 001095 — for the right to implement activities “processing, storage of radioactive waste” (operation of the Temporary Storage Facility for Solid Waste of III Group (High-Level Waste), Low- and Intermediate-Level Long-Lived Waste (TSF for HLW and LIL-LLW)).
— No. ОВ 001096 — for the right to implement activities “processing, storage of radioactive waste” (commissioning of the Solid Radioactive Waste Retrieval Facility (SWRF) and Solid Radioactive Waste Processing Plant (SWPP) of the Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management (ICSRM).
— No. ОВ 010950 — for the right to implement activities on the use of ionizing radiation sources.
Work on individual dosimetry control of Chornobyl NPP's staff has been restored in full at the ChNPP. About this informed Head of Radiation Safety Shop Leonid Yakovenko.
As is known, on 24th of February 2022 ChNPP was seized and blocked by russian forces. As a result, the Radiation Safety Shop, as well as other plant's departments, could not fulfill the designated functions and duties in full.
“During the occupation, it was impossible to control individual radiation doses based on readings of the main individual dosimetry control equipment — “Harshaw” dosimeters. The reason is that to do this work it is necessary to involve separately trained staff from the Laboratory of individual dosimetry control.
On April 26, Head of IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Chornobyl NPP. He led the Agency's mission on preventing nuclear accidents during the war in Ukraine. Mr Grossi was accompanied by high officials of IAEA represented Italy, France, Austria, Sweden and several other countries.
As was declared ahead of the visit, presence of IAEA in Chornobyl would be of primary importance for activity of this organization to support Ukraine, as the Agency strives to restore the regulatory control of the NPP and to ensure its safe and reliable operation.
The IAEA experts have delivered the equipment and set the purpose to conduct radiological surveys at the ChNPP site which was occupied by russian troops for five weeks.