“Inactive” comprehensive tests of Chernobyl NPP Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant (LRTP) process systems were started on December 25, 2012. Their main task is to confirm the operability of the LRTP systems to fulfill specified design functions using simulated wastes, and determine the readiness of the systems for comprehensive testing of the plant process systems using active radioactive wastes. The “inactive” comprehensive tests of the process equipment are planned to be completed in March 2013 according to the schedule, provided by the Contractor.

The “active” comprehensive tests are panned for the second quarter of 2013, provided obtaining of the positive authorization from the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. The completion of the “active” comprehensive testing of the LRTP process equipment is planned for November 2013.

The LRTP construction is financed at the expense of Nuclear Safety Account, which is administrated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The need in the LRTP construction is determined by the necessity to treat the liquid radioactive waste, accumulated during the SSE ChNPP operation, as well as the liquid radioactive waste, which will be generated as a result of activities on the ChNPP decommissioning and Shelter Object transformation into an ecologically safe system.

The plant design capacity is 42 RAW packages (LRW cemented in 200-l drum) per day.

The turnkey LRTP construction contract with the Consortium BELGATOM\SGN\ANSALDO was terminated in 2006. The SSE ChNPP undertook the LRTP project management in full.

The strategy for the LRTP project completion was developed and agreed with the EBRD during 2006-2012. To complete the LRTP construction all activities were divided into four packages. The contracts were awarded for each package in accordance with the EBRD procedures. All contracts are at the stage of implementation.

On December 24, 2012, the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych signed Decree No.726/2012 “On some measures to optimize the system of central executive authorities”, by which the Ministry of Emergencies was liquidated. In the same Decree it is said that activity of the State Agency on the Exclusion Zone Management, the responsibilities of which cover the issues of the Chernobyl NPP decommissioning and Shelter Object transformation into an ecologically safe system, will be managed and coordinated through the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Recourses of Ukraine.

The corresponding document was agreed by the State Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Ukraine on December 7, 2012. In the decision “On acknowledgement of SSE ChNPP Unit No.3 (a nuclear facility released from nuclear fuel) as a facility for radioactive waste management” is pointed out that in accordance with Article 1 of a Law of Ukraine “On Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety” and i.11.9 of “General Provisions on NPP Safety” the nuclear facility of Power Unit No.3 can be acknowledged as the facility for RAW management.

In 2010 all fuel was removed from Unit No.3 and transported to ISF-1. However, to the present day it was operated in ready mode to accept spent nuclear fuel from ISF-1. Due to the fact that operating life of Unit No.3 as a nuclear facility had been expired in December 2011, the necessity and expediency of extension of its operating life was assessed. Based on the assessment materials and taking into consideration the decision, agreed by the State Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Ukraine on June 14, 2012 “On procedure of SFA placement in cooling pools of Power Units 1,2 in case of emergency unloading of one of the ISF-1 cooling pool’s compartments”, since December 8, 2012, the operating mode of Unit No.3 under the state of readiness to accept the spent nuclear fuel is stopped, and the Power Unit’s nuclear facility is considered as the facility, intended for RAW management.

By the 31^st of December 2013 the Chernobyl NPP will prepare documents to obtain a specific authorization giving the right to finally shutdown and preserve the third Power Unit within the framework of License of the State Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Ukraine ЕО No.000040 “The Chernobyl NPP Decommissioning”.

On December 17, 2012, the activities on release of ChNPP Unit No.1 from conditioned spent nuclear fuel (SNF) were resumed. 1,325 spent fuel assemblies are to be transported to ISF-1 and about 1,250 “short” fuel canisters are to be manufactured for SNF storage at ISF-1 by November 30, 2013.

By analogy with the works performed on the release of Power Unit No.2 from SNF, the activities at Power Unit No.1 will be performed according to “Measures providing the process of release of Chernobyl NPP Units No.1,2 from nuclear fuel”, brought into force by Order No.51 dated January 26, 2012, and meeting the conditions of a specific authorization of the State Nuclear Safety Inspectorate at ChNPP (Series OD No.000040/1-21).