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23.05.2008 // Information Department of Balakovo NPP

IAEA OSART mission is underway at Balakovo NPP

IAEA OSART mission is underway at Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant.

The experts are checking up if the operating safety system of the plant complies with the international standards and will make recommendations on how to improve it.

The mission set off on May 20: the experts inspected the machine compartment and the control panel of the 4th unit, the central control panel, the pump station, the waste treatment center and a number of other facilities. On May 21 they started detailed inspection of the following aspects of the plant’s work: management, organizational structure and administration, training and attestation, operation, maintenance and repair, engineering support, operating experience, radiation safety and chemistry. Each aspect is being examined by one expert having vast experience in the sphere.

The OSART team comprises experts from Austria, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, the United States, France, the Czech Republic, China and Germany as well as observers from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The experience of the experts as well as the openness and the professionalism of the local specialists helping them in their work will guarantee the efficiency and objectiveness of the mission.

The experts are examining the documentation and are observing the work of the local personnel.

IAEA expert, the director of Mohovce NPP Ljubomir Krenicky, who has 26-year experience of work in the nuclear industry, says that the first impression of Balakovo NPP was good. Its equipment and personnel are efficient while the operating standards of the public information center are even higher than those applied at European NPPs.

The specialist of Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant (the United States) Herbert McSwell, the executive for personnel training of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (Bulgaria) Plant Ljubomir Pironkov, the head of the Reactor Department of Paks Nuclear Power Plant (Hungary) Leber Ferenz and IAEA observer Takuo Okamoto inspected the Training Center of Balakovo NPP: they visited the control panel simulator and watched a fire response exercise. The trainees acted quickly and efficiently and the experts had no remarks.

The mission will last till early June.