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    On 6th of July, the Chornobyl NPP received the formal approval of the permanent change of its affiliation to the WANO Paris Centre. Previously, from the time of the WANO establishment in 1989, ChNPP was affiliated to the Moscow Regional Centre.

    The World Association of Nuclear Operators (hereinafter — WANO) was created after the Chornobyl accident. The WANO mission is to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants worldwide.

    “We consider the WANO membership important first of all because it gives us the opportunity of the common support, exchange of information and use of positive experience of other NPPs worldwide” — says Deputy Head of the ChNPP International Cooperation and Information Department Valentyna Odynytsia.

    There are several WANO Regional Centres: in Atlanta (USA), Paris (France), Tokyo (Japan) and Moscow (RF), and a Central Office in London (UK). Principle of the member affiliation to the Regional Centres is mainly geographical. The ChNPP geographically belonged to the area of the Moscow Centre activity, as well as nuclear power plants of Lithuania, Bulgaria, Armenia, Hungary, Czech Republic and other countries.

    From 21 to 27 June, a delegation of the Clean Futures Fund (USA) led by Eric Kambarian, head of the Fund, and Dr Jennifer Betz, the Fund's lead veterinarian visited the Exclusion Zone and Slavutych town.

    Since 2016, the Found has initiated and conducted a number of projects both in the Exclusion Zone and in the communities, affected by the Chornobyl disaster (Slavutych and Ivankiv are among them). Of the main areas of work, the following can be highlighted:

    1. Project "Dogs of Chornobyl" — regulation of the population of stray dogs on the territory of Chornobyl NPP and Exclusion zone by sterilization and vaccination
    2. Project for children of ChNPP’s employees with health problems: financing of surgeries, rehabilitation, and medical equipment
    3. Assistance to retired liquidators of the Chornobyl accident
    4. Implementation of joint annual training programmes with the ChNPP Radiation Safety Shop for US specialists in radiation safety rules.

    On 3rd of July, the IAEA Assistance Mission completed its work at Chornobyl NPP. The overall objective of the Mission was to provide assistance and support to ChNPP in the area of nuclear safety and security. This event was organized within the Assistance Action Plan (AAP) being implemented by the IAEA.

    During the 4-days Mission the experts discussed the current safety and security situation at each facility of the Exclusion Zone. In particular, they were speaking about nuclear security, management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, radiation protection, emergency preparedness and response. In addition to specialists from ChNPP, the Mission was attended by representatives of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU).

    The IAEA experts studied the state of physical protection systems of facilities of the Exclusion Zone, and determined a list of needs caused by the seizure from russian forces. These needs were specified after assessing RAW and SNF management activities and a state of occupational radiation protection of workers.

    During a regular emergency drill held at Slavutych office of Chornobyl NPP on May 30, plant’s employees practiced an algorithm for evacuation to the defense building in case of an air raid.

    About 200 people, who were at the time of the training air raid announcement, left their workplaces and proceeded in an organized manner to the civil defense building, where they were familiarized with the arrangement and facility operation.

    According to Dmytro Kondratov, Head of the Chernobyl Emergency Response Department, the training was successful, the goals set during the scenario development were achieved: "I am sure that in case of real threat, which can occur in conditions of ongoing war in our country, all participants of today's drill will be able quickly and operatively to reach safe place - actually the defense building and safely stay there until the danger disappears. Although, of course, it is desirable that we and our colleagues have never needed these skills in practice.

    A joint emergency response exercise was successfully held at Chornobyl NPP on May 16. It was the first emergency drill after liberating the site from the russian occupation forces.

    The subject was fire in the New Safe Confinement’s main space (space under the Arch) followed by deterioration of the radiation situation.

    1. Visit of Government Officials to ChNPP
    2. Chemical control of the water quality restored in full at ChNPP
    3. No nuclear and radioactive substances were stolen from ChNPP during the occupation
    4. Fire extinguisher recharge station back in operation at Chornobyl NPP

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