Cold tests, another important milestone in the Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2) construction project, has been completed. Their duration was almost four months, from May 6 to August 29.
Cold testing is a mandatory part of ISF-2 pre-commissioning test and consists of three main steps.
During the first stage the operability of the equipment of all major process systems and their ability to handle dummies of spent fuel assembly (hereinafter: SFAs) were tested. At the second stage of the test all auxiliary systems ensuring operation of the main ones were tested. The third stage of "cold" tests was aimed at identification of the maintainability of all ISF-2 equipment — whether its components and parts can be repaired remotely (without direct personnel involvement) in the case of their failure in the operating conditions of the facility.
All three stages of testing were supervised by a commission consisting of representatives from the Contractor, the Employer and the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.
The Chornobyl NPP received a Certificate from the State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate of Ukraine, confirming that the constructed facility “New Safe Confinement (NSC). Commissioning Stage No.1 (CS-1). Licensing Package No.6 (LP-6). Protective structure with technological life support systems and necessary infrastructure” is in compliance with the design documentation, and the Certificate confirmed its readiness for operation.
On July 29, a contract was singed for civil works related to New Safe Confinement facility (NSC). Commissioning Stage 2 (CS-2). Dismantling the unstable structures of the SSE ChNPP Shelter in terms of “early” dismantling. The signatories are the SSE Chornobyl NPP and 
On July 24, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine amended "The Grant Agreement (Chornobyl Nuclear Safety Project) between EBRD, Cabinet of Ministers and State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine" dated 8 July, 2009.
On July 8, the industrial operation of the Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant (LRTP) was resumed. For a week of operation in this mode, 34 packages of end product were prepared at the plant. After 28 days of holding, the RAW packages will be transferred for disposal at the engineered near-surface disposal facility for solid radioactive waste.