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    During the week from 15 to 19 April 2019, ChNPP technical specialists together with WANO experts will review international best practices in the long-term dry storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and identify possible risks as well as ways to manage them regarding ChNPP site.

    Day 1 of the mission was dedicated to presenting ChNPP’s approach to SNF storage process. In particular, during the presentation it was mentioned that currently SNF is being stored at a wet-type interim storage facility at ChNPP industrial site, while the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility of dry type (ISF-2) is currently under construction, financed through the Nuclear Safety Account of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

    Experts of the support mission are representatives of Ignalina NPP (Lithuania), Paks NPP (Hungaria), Doel NPP (Belgium), and Ontario Power Generation (Canada); all of them have got long-term practical experience in dry storage of spent nuclear fuel.

    As a result of this mission it is expected to receive information which will help to minimize faults connected to long-term dry storage of SNF and gain practical experience in this activity by ChNPP personnel.

    A Contest for the best sketch design for creation of a mural at the Chornobyl NPP commences on April 3.

    A painting will be located at the Eastern wall of the Turbine Hall facing the office rooms of the ChNPP. Thus, each day about thousand persons from the Plant’s staff and visitors will see this mural.

    The Contest’s task is to develop the mural’s design including a colour sketch, name of the design, concept and brief description. The design must be tailored to 18.5 m х 57.9 m dimensions.

    Number of works from one participant is not limited. A winner of the Contest is awarded with an exclusive 2-day individual excursion to the Chornobyl NPP and Prypiat, and money reward as well.

    The Acting Director General of Chornobyl NPP was changed on 19th March. Serhii Kalashnyk took up this position. Previously he worked as a Deputy Manager of the New Safe Confinement Project at the Joint Venture NOVARKA (VINCI CGP/ BOUYGUES).

    “I believe that the first priority and the most important thing in my life is people. Human life is the most valuable thing in possession of our civilization. The first thing that preserves out lives is occupational health and safety in all of its aspects. People must be provided with protection equipment, must be trained and supervised” – emphasized Mr. Kalashnyk in his speech.

    Also Mr. Kalashnyk announced that in his work he will focus on the quality of workplaces and production means. Besides, among the priorities are training of personnel of all levels in terms of mastering new processes and equipment on the ChNPP site, as well as the salary increase in light of the professional development of staff, complexity and intensity of work.

    The order for appointment of the new Acting Director General was signed by the Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on the Exclusion Zone Management Vitalii Petruk on the ground of the SAUEZM’s Charter approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No.564, and taking into account the requirements of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine “On permitting activity in the field of nuclear energy utilization”.

    On February 26 Vodafone Ukraine’s representatives made a presentation of NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) technology at ChNPP site.

    NB-IoT is a licensed LTE cellular standard for data exchange between devices. Features of NB-IoT standard is optimization of connection of a large number of devices with a small amount of data transfer, efficient use of the radio frequency resource (bandwidth of one channel — 180 kHz), ultra-low power consumption by devices, allowing their operation up to 10 years without changing the battery, as well as high signal penetration.

    Sergey Rybalko, Senior Master of the Radiation Safety Shop describes the possibilities of this technology usage for Radiation Safety needs: "Taking into account that this technology is not sufficiently developed not only in Ukraine but also in the world as a whole, it is more suitable for household systems than for technological system. Regarding the volume of data transmitted by this system, it is suitable for ChNPP. The volumes we have are not too big, in practice, these are text data up to hundreds of character symbols.

    Main Cranes System was tested after modification from February 18 till February 22 at New Safe Confinement site.

    The purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the safe system operation after installation of additional elements on the cranes bridges.

    The Main Cranes System (hereinafter: MCS) is a complex of equipment that will be a key tool for the Shelter object dismantling. It includes 2 beams, which can move independently under NSC arch. The system is remotely controlled from the technological building.

    Earlier the problem of exceeding of the torque of electric motors on MCS bridges drives was revealed during inspections. After implementation of a series of measures to eliminate the causes, the company of cranes manufacturer PAR Systems (USA) has implemented a number of measures related to MCS mechanical part and control system.

    1. IAEA Expert Assistance in Management of RAW
    2. Everybody to the exit: fire training at ChNPP
    3. SAUEZM Board: summing up of 2018
    4. Part of systems was put into operational conditions at NSC

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