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    On January 22, 2019, the State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate issued a separate permit to the State Specialized Enterprise "Chornobyl NPP" Series ОД No. 33033/11 providing the right for operation of existing building constructions within the boundaries of the second generation of Chornobyl NPP, performing functions of New Safe Confinement (NSC) enclosing perimeter, after their reinforcement and sealing.

    The ground for the permit issuance is a positive conclusion of the State expertise of Nuclear and Radiation Safety to the package of documents submitted by SSE Chornobyl NPP and the inspection survey performed by SNRIU from January 14 to 17, 2019. During this survey, Chornobyl NPP confirmed its ability to perform the declared activity regarding operation of these constructions.

    At the beginning of 2019 the Government of the Kingdom of Norway approved the continuation of “Chornobyl Decommissioning Visualization Center” project. The project is implemented by the Chornobyl NPP and Institute for Energy Technology (hereinafter — IFE, in Norwegian — Institutt for Energiteknikk).

    The new project is targeted at the development of the Chornobyl Decommissioning Visualization Center (hereinafter — CDVC) that was created in 2016. The CDVC introduces the advanced technology of virtual reality (VR), 3D modelling and visualization to improve the efficiency and safety of work performance at the ChNPP decommissioning stages.

    As an example, using the CDVC one can calculate occupational doses for personnel when transporting the spent nuclear fuel. This will help to properly install the shielding and calculate the safe performance time. Besides, the Center enables to simulate abnormal and emergency situations and prepare the response plan well in advance.

    On January 16, the comprehensive tests of the New Safe Confinement radiation monitoring system were started. Emergency situations are simulated during the tests and response of specific systems on them is checked.

    Leading engineer of the Radiation Safety Shop Yevhen Stromko provides comments regarding this activity: "Tests are carried out as close as possible to the normal operating conditions of the facility. We give alarms to the safety controller, which sends signals to NSC technological systems. For example, an alarm in the ventilation system should lead to the closure of the door, shut-off of air ducts, which in turn will activate the air filtration systems. A sound and light alarm is generated".

    During three days, from January 16 to January 18, similar tests were carried out in all zones of NSC. The first zone includes the main space of NSC (space under the arch) and a unit of liquid radioactive waste (hereinafter: RAW). The second zone represents the premises where radioactive waste will be managed. The third zone is intended for the personnel, this is the cleanest zone in terms of radiation safety.

    From 14 to 17 January 2019 inspection survey is conducted by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine at Chornobyl NPP industrial site.

    The survey has been initiated by ChNPP and is aimed at learning the possibility to obtain individual permit to operate existing building structures within the boundaries of ChNPP second stage, which function as the new safe confinement enclosing perimeter after they were reinforced and sealed.

    The activities are performed in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation on the use of nuclear power and in line with the terms of the license series EO No. 000033 for the right to conduct activities on the “Operation of Object Shelter” in terms of the need to obtain an appropriate permit.

    Chornobyl NPP goes on implementing the task declared by the State Exclusion Zone Management Agency of Ukraine on transferring the 30-kilometer area into the Territory of change.

    ChNPP staff has made a decision that there is no need to put the freshly felled Christmas tree in front of the ChNPP Administrative building. Instead, in order to create Christmas and New Year mood everyone can decorate one of the trees planted near the Monument to the Heroes of Chornobyl, starting from this year.

    - Caring about the environment and nature comes out in preserving every tree in the Exclusion zone. Moreover, we used to put 5-6 meter tall trees in front of the Administrative building, while a standard one and a half meter fir tree usually grows for more than 10 years, — Oleksandr Novikov, Deputy Technical Director for Safety, commented on the holiday campaign.

    1. Chornobyl NPP takes part in an exhibition being conducted in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
    2. December 14 — Day in honoring of the Chornobyl accident consequences liquidation participants
    3. IAEA Mission: decommissioning of the facilities and Radioactive Materials Management
    4. Assemblies of Chornobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account contributors

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