On October 30, a round table devoted to “The Shelter Object – Present Challenges” will take place at Chornobyl NPP.
Within the framework of this round table a number of issues will be discussed aimed at the development and implementation of the design for the Shelter unstable building structures dismantling and identification of further steps for the Shelter transformation into an environment-friendly system.
On 5 November British Ambassador Melinda Simmons and representatives of the Embassy visited the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant as part of an official visit to the Exclusion Zone.
During the visit, Ms. Simmons got acquainted with the operation of the New Safe Confinement. It should be reminded that the United Kingdom was one of the main Contributors to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund, the replacement and continuation of which is the International Cooperation Account for Chernobyl.
After NSC visiting, a working meeting was held with the top managers of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, during which the Acting Director General of the Chornobyl NPP, Valeriy Seyda familiarized the Ambassador with the work progress at Chornobyl NPP and prospects for the enterprise. They also discussed the extension of bilateral cooperation between the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the United Kingdom. The Ambassador expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to visit the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and said that the United Kingdom was proud to have been a partner of Ukraine in what had been achieved at the site over the last decades.
From October 25 to November 2, experts from the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (hereinafter: KAERI) visited the Chornobyl NPP. The purpose of their visit was to participate in tests of Korean pilot technologies for radioactive material management.
The tests were performed using two technologies: radioactive graphite management and transuranium elements removal using selected samples. Specialists of the ChNPP Measuring Water-Radiochemical Laboratory performed the tests.
“As a result of this cooperation project, we expect continuation of our RAW management technologies development. KAERI and ChNPP have a common interest in Units decommissioning and RAW management, so in the future we hope to continue to develop technologies and achieve their successful commercialization”, said Keunyoung Lee Project Manager of KAERI Radioactive Waste Management Program.
The third and final stage of "hot" testing at the Industrial Complex for the Solid Radioactive Waste Management was started on October 26.
The complex is intended for acceptance, processing and / or disposal of solid radioactive waste accumulated during Chornobyl NPP operation and those generated during the decommissioning, as well as operational radioactive waste from the Shelter object.
"This is a very important event. The last "long-term construction" at Chornobyl NPP industrial site is finally moving towards its completion. From now we will fully work in all directions: with fuel, liquid waste, and with solid waste", — summed up the beginning of tests ChNPP Acting General Director Valery Seyda.
According to preliminary estimates, the forecasted volume of Radioactive Waste (hereinafter: RAW) during ChNPP Units decommissioning and Shelter Object transformation into an ecologically safe system will be about 180 000 m3, which in volume is approximately equal to 70 Olympic pools. The portion of the Solid RAW is about 140 000 m3.
Radiation safety training was held at the Chornobyl NPP industrial site and in Pripyat town from 18 to 22 October. The training is traditionally organised by ChNPP Radiation Safety Shop in close cooperation with US organisations Clean Futures Fund and Technical Resources Group Inc.
The five-day course includes theoretical and practical parts, in particular exercises on radiation reconnaissance at Chornobyl NPP site, as well as in Pripyat and Chornobyl cities.
The delegation consisted of 12 US specialists who are employees of US Department of Energy, US Emergency Service, as well as US (Palo Verde NPP) and UK nuclear power plants.
According to Lucas Hixson, one of the American organizers of the training, the training and the experience obtained by the specialists from Chornobyl specialists is very valuable. The organisers are improving the training process so that participants acquire more and more new knowledge and skills.