30.07.2007 // Information Center of Smolensk NPP

Smolensk NPP: News digest

Labor protection at Smolensk NPP is norm for each employee

On July 27 Smolensk NPP tested its employees for their knowledge of the labor protection rules. This contest is conducted twice a year and each time it covers more and more employees. 

This is an opportunity for checking up the compliance of the employees with the legislative and regulatory documents concerning labor protection, a guarantee of their safety and a way to teach them how to protect themselves.

The shift manager of the turbine department Yuri Osipov proved to be the most competent in the sphere. He was proclaimed the winner. This is his second victory and it allows him to represent Smolensk NPP at the sectoral contest to be held at Volgodonsk NPP on Nov 13 2007.

Such contests are a way to ensure effective labor protection, to prevent injuries on site, to guarantee the safety of employees and to make labor protection a norm for each of them.

International contacts of Smolensk NPP contribute to its efficiency

Presently, Smolensk NPP is starting “2+2,” a four-year international project to be carried out in the framework of a TACIS program and aimed at outfitting and licensing the plant’s radioactive waste treatment system.  

On July 25–27 Smolensk NPP hosted a start-up conference, which was attended by representatives of the plant, the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Control the Research Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, IRSN (Institute de Radioprotection et de Sécurite Nucléaire, France), AMEC NNC.

The conferees discussed both aspects of the project — equipping and licensing – as well as other related problems. The expert of the Research Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety Marina Nepeipivo said that radioactive waste treatment is a very important problem and an object of constant attention by both Russian and foreign experts. Such meetings are a good opportunity for them to coordinate approaches and to exchange experience, a means of professional, political and human communication.

“Desnay-2007”: Smolensk NPP gets “Best Team Image” award

The 7th international festival of young nuclear power engineers “Desnay-2007” finished in Sosnovy Bor (Leningrad NPP) on July 28 2007. Delegations of all Russian NPPs, Chernobyl NPP (Ukraine) and Ignalina NPP (Lithuania), representatives of a number of Russian technical universities and veterans of the Dysnai Movement – a total of 300 people — took part in the festival. For the first time the festival involved students of specialized universities: Obininsk Nuclear Energy Institute, Ivanovo State Power Engineering Institute, Southern Russian State Technological University.   

This year the Dysnai Movement is marking its 20th birthday. The first festival was conducted in Lithuania at Ignalina NPP. In 2001–20020 the festival moved to Smolensk NPP, since 2003 – to Leningrad NPP. This year’s festival was traditionally bright and joyful with informal contacts developing into real friendship. 

The chairman of the Coordinating Council of the Plenipotentiaries of the Youth Organizations of the Russian NPPs, the president of the International Association of Young Nuclear Power Engineers Yevgeny Churkin says that this year Smolensk NPP had a very bright team. Their basic concept was the ancient Slavonic tradition, the power spirit of the Slavs: old Russian rites, songs, games, costumes, fights of legendary heroes-bogatyrs.

The youths from Smolensk NPP were beautiful, kind and sincere and the Organizational Committee of Desnay-2007 proclaimed them as having the “Best Team Image.”

Desnogorsk marks the Day of the Navy

On July 29 Smolensk NPP marked the Day of the Navy. The Trade Union of the plant and the Culture and Sports Committee of Desnogorsk organized water festivities at Desnogorsk reservoir.

The program included a motor-ship tour, a regatta, an awarding ceremony, a concert and a photo exhibition about the history of the Russian Navy. Seven employees of Smolensk NPP were awarded a jubilee medals, ten employees were decorated with a special badge. 

Smolensk NPP employs over 100 former seamen and navy officers. Most of them served on submarines. 

Today, they are professionals working for the sake of the nuclear power industry. On Feb 23 2006 they set up a public organization “Maritime Assembly,” which is the branch of Smolensk Maritime Assembly. As seamen they acquired skills and knowledge they actively use today for enhancing the safety and efficiency of their plant.