The Chernobyl NPP came up for the final stage of commissioning of the Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant. The State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate of Ukraine (SACI) issued a license, which certifies that the LRTP is brought into line with modern construction norms and requirements.

In line with the Special permit for LRTP operation issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine in December 2014, the above-mentioned certificate of the State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate of Ukraine (SACI) was a prerequisite for the commencement of LRTP operation. Due to the establishment of new construction norms and regulations, the issue of the certificate was delayed in 2014 until the completion of all the activities stipulated by new requirements. After renovation of the facility, during which fire protection and lightning protection systems were improved, and the building was made cold-proof, the Chernobyl NPP obtained a license of the SACI, and in the near future the Plant will start fulfilling its design tasks related to liquid RAW processing.

In addition, autonomous electric boilers and a steam generator have been installed at the LRTP. This will make it possible to evaporate RAW and reduce their amount by increasing salt concentration in the RAW.

For reference. 63 packages of radioactive waste (RAW) have been generated at the stage of "hot" tests at the LRTP. RAW packages are sent to the ENSDF in accordance with the schedule agreed by the ChNPP and the State Specialized Enterprise "Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management", to which the ENSDF belongs.

There are plans to attain the designed capacity at the LRTP during the first half of the year in the scope of 7 RAW packages per day. Contracts have been signed for the supply of consumables – slag-lime cement, which is used in the process flow for solidification of liquid RAW.

In general, over the period of March 2018, the works for ensuring the operational mode of the systems and equipment related to life support of the facility were performed at the LRTP.

In accordance with Order No. 211 dated March 21, 2017 (On Amendments to Annex 1 to Order No. 235 dated April 6, 2016), work has also been ongoing to implement measures of the "Action Plan for LRTP Commissioning": check of the facility's operational readiness. In line with the "Detailed Work Schedule", Construction Company "Ukrbudmontazh" (Contract No. 070817 for the execution of work: Construction works for the Facility "Chernobyl NPP - Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant") carried out electrical installation works for equipment connection; installation of a steam generator and pipelines and pre-commissioning activities.

In March, 16 packages of radioactive waste were sent for disposal to the ENSDF of “Vector” Complex.