20.09.2007 // Information Center of Leningrad NPP/Press service of Rosenergoatom Concern

Head of Emergency Response Group: Past emergency training at Leningrad NPP was the biggest ever

The complex emergency training at Leningrad NPP is over.

During the final press-conference the head of the Emergency Response Group, the technical director of Rosenergoatom Concern Nikolay Sorokin said that it was the biggest emergency training ever conducted at a Russian NPP.

One of the unique peculiarities of the training was the use of full-large simulator – a system precisely imitating the work of a real nuclear power unit.

Sorokin informed the journalists that almost 7mln RUR had been spent on the organization and conduct of the training and as much as 90mln RUR on the preparation of the necessary base at LNPP. The whole equipment bought for the training will be given to the plant. “This will certainly enhance the safety and efficiency of the plant,” Sorokin said.

On the second day of the training the organizers invited journalists. 15 TV groups were involved in the training. They represented almost all federal TV channels. There were also journalists from regional and local TV companies.

The journalists visited the radiation monitoring stations, watched how firemen fought the fire and how rescuers saved victims. 

Experts from nine countries observed the training: Germany, Korea, Norway, the United States, Finland, France, Sweden, Ukraine and Armenia.

Director General of VNIITFA Nikolay Kuzelev said: “Such events are extremely important. Today, our economic welfare depends on nuclear energy and we need to be sure that our nuclear power plants are safe. New technologies are a guarantee that no emergencies will ever take place at our nuclear power plants.”

“I have seen once again that our nuclear power plants are one of the safest and best equipped facilities in the world and our foreign colleagues acknowledge this fact.”

An observer from France said that such events are always impressive. “I would like to say that your personnel are very well trained and your equipment is ready for such situations. I am impressed to see that you are conducting such a large-scale event for training your personnel. Obviously, all the members of the Emergency Response Group are eager to improve their actions.”

A representative of ISaR (Germany) said: “What we have seen today is very impressive. We are really amazed to see what our colleagues from LNPP can and have. I hope that they will never face such situations in real life. I am satisfied with all I have seen here.”

During the training Leningrad NPP operated according to the schedule. The radiation background at the plant and in the nearby area was within norm.

Leningrad NPP is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea 80 km west of St.Petersburg.

The plant has four units with RBMK-1000 reactors with a total capacity of 4000 MW. It employs 5,977 people: 5,635 industrial employees and 342 non-industrial employees and pays them 26,695 RUR a month: 27,306 RUR to industrial personnel and 11,380 RUR to non-industrial personnel.