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    On November 13-14, the ChNPP site has been visited by the delegation from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).

    KAERI was established in 1959 as a unified vocational scientific and research nuclear energy institute of the South Korea and quickly gained a reputation of a center for research and developments in different areas.

    The visit of KAERI experts was preceded by a trip of specialists from ChNPP and the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAEZM) to the Republic of Korea.

    The objective of that visit was to present Ukrainian experience in the area of ChNPP accident mitigation, its decommissioning, and RAW management. Besides, our experts got familiar with KAERI’s experience relating to development and testing of technologies for decommissioning of nuclear facilities, they visited a simulator for dismantling process assessment which combines 3D-modeling and remotely controlled mechanisms.

    On 12 and 13 November the Chornobyl NPP hosted the International Insurance Survey of the World System of Nuclear Insurance Pools. The survey’s task — to assess the ChNPP key facilities (both interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel, NSC, complexes for radioactive waste management, etc.) and develop an engineering report on risks of its third party liability insurance for nuclear damage that can be inflicted to their life, health and property.

    According to Valeriy Seyda, the ChNPP First Deputy Director General, possession of an insurance certificate is of great importance for the Plant, as, without it, it is impossible to obtain the operating licenses for the NSC and ISF-2 after completing their construction.

    “A facility must be assessed prior to its insurance. In our case [in case of Chornobyl NPP — ed.] it is a very complex technological site. Here we are carrying out the engineering assessment of risks,” — comments the survey Oleksandr Babenko, the Director General of the Ukrainian Nuclear Insurance Pool.

    Starting from 21st October up to 8th November 2019, the advance training course on BROKK manipulators hands-on repair and maintenance has been taking place at ChNPP site. Such manipulators are being used at the Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management.

    The training course is being delivered by Belgian TECNUBEL within the cooperation project with ChNPP, which has been going on for the last two years. The project is financed from the government fund of Belgium.

    The course provides for tutorials and hands-on training on making replacement of BROKK manipulator hydraulic components. The instructors – Project Manager and Product Expert Tarik Bouayad and Senior Experts Pier Collette and Nizar Belgacem – simulate various emergency events, and the course participants – ChNPP workers – have to run diagnostics and find out the solution for the simulated problem.

    Tests on the Project “Creation of a facility for release of materials from regulatory control …” have commenced at Chornobyl NPP. Overall purpose of this Project is to improve a level of safety and economic efficiency in managing all types of radioactive materials in Ukraine, and to implement all possible actions for reduction of waste amount and implementation of long-term tasks on the safe final disposal.

    The Project is funded by the European Union within the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation Program 2011, Part II. The Project works are performed by the Contractor – VF a.s. from the Czech Republic.

    Use of the facility for release of materials from regulatory control is the final stage of radioactive materials (RM) management process. Materials, which are meant for the release from regulatory control, will be delivered to the facility only following decontamination and other activities envisaged by the process. Using spectrometric measurements, this facility will enable to justify the possibility of RM release from regulatory control and their return to national economy.

    During 14-18 October the Chornobyl NPP’s delegation visited Dessel (Belgium) where the main office of radioactive waste management company Belgoprocess is located.

    This has been already the second visit of ChNPP team to Belgium since 2016 and the fourth general meeting within the framework of ChNPP-Belgoprocess bilateral cooperation agreement.

    The ChNPP team together with the Belgium colleagues discussed nuclear waste management issues, specifically regarding operation of waste processing installations, treatment techniques and waste characterization. On the other hand, it was continuation of the Quality Management and Assurance Program.

    “Our 4-days meeting, among other things, resulted in drafting a preliminary priority tasks for the next year [2020 — ed.]. After its final agreement in November we will apply with the relevant proposal to the Belgian Ministry of Economics — Department of Energy, for its approval and funding”, — Ivo Fransen, Belgoprocess’s Business Development Manager, sharing plans for the future.

    1. Mural has been painted at ChNPP
    2. Radiation Protection Training for US Specialists
    3. IAEA: National Workshop for RAW Characterization
    4. Decontamination of small diameter pipes

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