26.11.2007 // Information and PR Center of Smolensk NPP

On Nov 23 2007 a group of WANO experts finished their partner inspection of Smolensk NPP

On Nov 23 2007 a team of 16 experts from Russia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Ukraine finished their partner inspection of Smolensk NPP.

During the final meeting, the director of the Moscow Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators Mikhail Chudakov said: “Today, nuclear power engineering is experiencing global renaissance – lots of countries are going to build new nuclear power plants and Russia is among them.

The world nuclear community understands that any accident at any NPP will have a negative effect of the image of nuclear power engineering. That’s why we pay so big attention to partner inspections. We apply a uniform methodology at all the 400 nuclear power units of the world and partner inspection is a unique instrument for maintaining their safety. In 2007 we have conducted four partner inspections at Zaporizhia, Dukovany, Bohunice and Smolensk NPPs.”

The deputy technical director of Rosenergoatom Concern Vasily Aksyonov said: “The experts have acquired quite valuable experience here and have made no less valuable recommendations. I hope that this inspection will contribute to the safety of your plant.”

The head of the Department for International Activities of Rosenergoatom Concern Anatoly Kirichenko said that nuclear power engineering is an international notion. Smolensk NPP has shown 16 examples of positive experience, which will be applied by all countries developing nuclear energy.

The experts presented their findings to the audience. They pointed to both strong and weak points of the plant. “The experts have given us a detailed report, which will serve us as a guideline in our further work,” the director of Smolensk NPP Andrey Petrov said.

Representatives of all news agencies and news papers of Desnogorsk were present at the final meeting. In conclusion, the managers of the plant gave a press-conference, which proves that Smolensk NPP is open to the public.

The inspection was by the Moscow Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

Such inspections are carried out on the invitation of a nuclear power plant. By inviting partners, nuclear power plants demonstrate their openness and readiness to use the best international experience. Such inspections are useful for both parties and help NPPs to enhance their efficiency.

Almost all the experts and the host specialists have worked in the nuclear sphere for over 20 years and have huge experience and highest possible qualification.

“Organization and Administration” was inspected by the chief engineer of Kursk NPP-the head of the group Alexander Uvakin and the deputy chief engineer for safety of Leningrad NPP Konstantin Kudryavtsev – both specialists have worked in the nuclear industry for over 30 years. “Partner inspections are an effective instrument for revealing deficiencies and exchanging the best experience. The experience of Smolensk NPP is also worth of being shared with others,” Uvakin said.

“Operating Experience” was inspected by Ladislav Dubsky, the advisor of the head of the safety department-the safety manager of Dukovany NPP (the Czech Republic), and Vladimir Krivokizhin, the head of the safety control department of Kola NPP.

“Radiation Safety” was inspected by the program manager of the WANO Tokyo Center Koichi Hangai and the head of the radiation control group of Bohunice NPP (Slovakia) Lubomir Dolezaj.

“Chemical Regimes” was inspected by Katia Minkova, the head of the technical department of Kozloduy NPP (Bulgaria), and Irina Krivosheina, the head of the radio-chemical laboratory of Ignalina NPP (Lithuania).

“Operation” was inspected by Anatoly Zinchenko, the head of the group of instructors, instructor of Novovoronezh NPP-2 project, and Mcluck Gordon, radiation control expert of Torness NPP (the UK).

“Repair” was inspected by Viktor Ivlev, the deputy head of the repair department of Volgodonsk NPP, and Anatoly Saygin, the senior engineer for repair of Kalinin NPP.

“Engineering Support” was inspected by Vyacheslav Fokin, the deputy chief engineer of Bilibinom NPP, and Warren Russel, technical program manager of the WANO Coordinating Center (London, the UK).

“Personnel Training” was inspected by Viktor Politayev, the head of the general personnel training of the training center of South-Ukrainian NPP (Ukraine), and Alexander Moskvin, the deputy head of the training and methodology department of the training center of Leningrad NPP.

During the first partner inspection in 2001, the experts checked up nine spheres. The parties were friendly and open. Then the partners pointed out the high safety of Smolensk NPP and the high professionalism of its personnel.

In 2006 Smolensk NPP was the best among the Russian NPPs in safety culture. This year the plant was the first among the Russian NPPs to receive ISO 9001:2000 quality management certificate.