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    International Scientific-Practical Conference with a focus on discussion of the most relevant issues of the Shelter Object transformation into an environmentally safe system started at the Chornobyl NPP on the threshold of 32nd anniversary of the Shelter construction completion.

    Dismantling of the Shelter Object’s unstable structures will commence after the NSC commissioning that is expected next year. These works are planned to be finished by 2023. Such circumstances require now proceeding with the detailed elaboration of long-term measures on the Shelter Object transformation into the environmentally safe system. This is actually the main task of the Conference.

    The Conference was opened by Valeriy Seyda, Acting General Director of SSE ChNPP, and Oleh Nasvit, First Deputy Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZM).

    The third planned training course for Chornobyl NPP’s personnel delivered by specialists of Belgian company Tecnubel in the field of "BROKK-330 maintenance: base level" was started.

    BROKK-330 Manipulators are used in ICSRM for works performance. The caterpillar-mounted manipulator of this model is located in a temporary storage for High-Level, Intermedium and Low-Level Long-Lived Radioactive Waste (RAW). It is intended to place RAW packages in storage compartments. Operator controls BROKK manipulators remotely using control panels and video surveillance systems.

    This is the first training course devoted to this manipulators model. Three earlier delivered training courses at Chornobyl NPP within 2017-2018 were aimed on improvement of the skills in handling, maintenance and repair of BROKK-180 manipulators, used for the Solid Radioactive Waste retrieval.

    On November 21, a regular emergency response drill took place at the Chornobyl NPP. Its goal was to check the preparedness and to practice emergency actions of personnel.

    Such drills are scheduled and conducted four times a year. In particular, this drill is considered as stress-test that summarizes skills of personnel received over a year. Stress-tests were developed following the analysis of the accident running at Fukushima NPP. Their distinctive feature is simultaneous failure of several systems of a plant at different facilities.

    “According to the legend, as a result of a high power earthquake – higher than a magnitude 6 maximum design earthquake – we suffered a destruction of structures and a storage pool for nuclear fuel at ISF-1. The earthquake also affected the safety of the Shelter Object, in which fuel-containing masses changed their position. To what extent this part is real, no one can say, but we hypothetically assumed it during the drill. Moreover, there was a complete loss of power supply that resulted in the plant blackout and mass failure of equipment” — Borys Spektor, Leading Instructor of the ChNPP Training Center, commented the drill legend.

    One fuel channel (FC) and one channel of control and protection system (CPS) were removed from the Unit 1 reactor. These works are carried out with a research purpose in the framework of working documentation development for the the second stage of the Project "Chornobyl Units 1, 2, 3 Final Shutdown and Preservation" (FS&P). Dismantling and processing of the channels has practical value for determination of duration for decommissioning activities, preservation and safe enclosure of reactors.

    Estimated term for FC & CPS channels dismantling and processing, according to the "Program of Units 1, 2, 3 Shutdown & Preservation Stage implementation" approved by SNRIU, until 2028. The Stage duration is determined, in particular, by the time of works execution in each of 3 reactors, containing from 1661 to 1693 FC and 227 CPS channels.

    On October 26 a single week training course on the advanced radionuclide activity measurement techniques was completed at Chornobyl NPP. Experts from the LOKMIS company (Lithuania) shared their expertise with ChNPP staff.

    Continual improvement of radiochemical analysis approaches and methods as well as operations during sample preparation and measurements using complex equipment has become the prerequisite for conducting the training course, since the up-to-date methods of radiochemical analysis and radionuclide activity measurements require continual practical and theoretical sustainment and enhancement for personnel.

    The main task of the course was to provide the personnel of ChNPP laboratory with qualified training on methods of measuring alpha, beta and gamma activity of radionuclides. Special attention was focused on Agilent 7500 ICP MS mass spectrometer, which is used by the ChNPP water and radiochemistry measuring laboratory.

    1. Chornobyl NPP and The State Exlusion Zone Management Agency represent Kyiv Region at the First Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus
    2. Civil Protection Drill was held for Chornobyl NPP personnel
    3. New mock-up of Chornobyl NPP
    4. Solar Power Plant was officially opened at Chornobyl NPP

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