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    Volunteers of the Clean Future Fund continue their activities under the project of sterilization of stray dogs in the Exclusion zone.

    During the first week a veterinary hospital has been organized with operating units and premises for temporary maintenance of animals in the remote area of the industrial site in a premise, which is not used for production needs, with the help of SSE ChNPP and SE ChNPP FSD employees. Within the period of 5 days, from July 31 till August 4, volunteers caught 44 stray dogs and some puppies.

    As of August 4, 35 animals were sterilized by veterinarians-specialists involved in the work of the Fund. Every dog ​​that has been sterilized was chipped. After a three-day rehabilitation period, chipped animals were released into their natural surroundings.

    Thereby, in the morning of August 7, employees of the Chornobyl NPP could see their four-legged friends near the Semikhody change facility and in other familiar areas and make sure with their own eyes that the operated dogs feel themselves quite satisfactory.

    The first stage of the comprehensive ISF-2 testing with Spent Fuel Assemblies simulators is started on August 1, 2017. The work is carried out in accordance with the Test Program agreed with SNRIU of Ukraine.

    This important stage was preceded by a long and complicated work on implementation of construction and assembly and pre-commissioning, individual (acceptance) testing of equipment, comprehensive testing of auxiliary systems, as well as complex testing of one of the most important system for the facility operation - the Transport container handling system.

    In parallel with installation work performance individual tests of equipment and systems for New Safe Confinement are underway. As of August 1, 2017, the following equipment and systems were tested within the project:
    - NSC Main Crane System, including two bridges, two crane trucks, mobile instrumentation platform, northern and southern maintenance garages with 25 tons crane;
    - passenger lift in the western end wall of the Arch;
    - 20-ton bridge crane in the Technological building;
    - 12 types of electric and manual lifting devices;
    - NSC power supply system 6 kV.

    On July 19, the testing of TK-8 docking mechanism started. This unit is one of the most important pieces for handling of Chornobyl NPP spent nuclear fuel.

    The docking mechanism was produced by BNG in accordance with Terms of Reference for manufacture and supply of the equipment for the construction project of Chornobyl NPP Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility. Immediately after delivery of all the docking mechanism elements the unit has been assembled and as per the programme of individual tests the pre-commissioning activities are to be carried out next.

    In the framework of these tests the compatibility verification is carried out for TK-8 docking mechanism equipment and new TK-700 railcar which has been designed and assembled for this project by Skoda.

    Successful implementation of this individual testing will enable in future to shift to the comprehensive tests of the new TK-700 railcar.

    The start of “hot” tests at the ISF-2 is scheduled for December 2017.

    On July 11, 2017 The Verkhovna Rada adopted a package of draft laws to restore targeted financing and use of the State Radioactive Waste Management Fund (RAW), which will restore its cumulative status and finance the implementation of the state program for utilization of such waste.

    In particular, 231 people's deputies (226 votes were required) voted for the adoption of draft law No. 6435 "On Amendments to Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine" On the Management of Radioactive Waste to Improve the Mechanism of Funding the Activities related to the Radioactive Waste Management".

    Ivan Rybak, people's deputy, representative of the parliamentary subcommittee on environmental policy, nature management and elimination of the Chornobyl accident consequences, noted that it should be possible by 2019 to move fully to financing of RAW management activities from the budget of the Fund. The funds will be used for the development of the radioactive waste management system, the construction of long-term storage facilities and scientific research. 

    Deputies also adopted draft law No. 6436 "On Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine on the Improvement of the Mechanism of Financial Support for Radioactive Waste Management".

    Vitaly Petruk, Chairman of the State Agency for Exclusion Zone Management, noted that the adoption of these draft laws will restore the accumulative status of the fund, that means, money in the fund will accumulate from year to year (on condition of limited use), to provide funding for the construction of very expensive storage facilities or other units.

    The situation with the fund was commented on by Igor Gramotkin, General Director of the Chornobyl NPP: "What opportunities does the RAW fund give us? Contributions to the fund will be made both by enterprises that produce radioactive waste, and Ukraine. The Fund will provide funding for RAW management and ChNPP decommissioning projects. This means that we are moving away from direct budget funding. The RAW Fund will be an accumulative fund, which means that we will be able to plan our activities for several years ahead, instead of annual planning, as was the case during direct budget financing".

    1. One more step has been taken in the implementation of ISF-2 Construction Project
    2. The Assembly of Chernobyl Shelter Fund contributors and Nuclear Safety Account donors is held in London
    3. As for the cyber attack
    4. The government reviewed and agreed the amendments to the National Programme for Chornobyl NPP Decommissioning

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