The State Specialized Enterprise “Chornobyl NPP” has obtained from the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine the specific permission for pilot operation of Commissioning Stage 1 of the New Safe Confinement (NSC CS-1).
The handing over of appropriate permission took place with participation of the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Mr. Roman Shakhmatenko, the Chairman of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine Mr. Hryhorii Plachkov, the Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management Mr. Serhii Kalashnyk, Acting Director General of SSE “Chornobyl NPP” Mr. Volodymyr Pieskov, and the representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
“Obtaining the specific permission for pilot operation of NSC Commissioning Stage 1 is a successful example of implementing the large-scale international project regarding completion of unique technological structure that would effectively protect humanity and environment against destroyed power unit of Chornobyl NPP. We thank very much the donors and contributors of the Nuclear Safety Account and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who joined together around the problem relating to the elimination of ChNPP accident consequences”, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Mr. Roman Shakhmatenko emphasized.
Decision on issuing the indicated specific permission has been taken by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine based on a Conclusion of the State Expert Review of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the declarative documents and positive results from inspection of SSE ChNPP held by the Inspection Commission during July 14-17.
Read more: State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate: Inspection of ChNPP
During pilot operation, the confirmation has to be verified and obtained testifying that systems, structures and components of NSC SC-1, and the entire facility, are functioning in accordance with the design, the identified defects are eliminated, and the New Safe Confinement is brought to a readiness state for further safe operation.
According to the Acting Director General of SSE “Chornobyl NPP” Mr. Volodymyr Pieskov, during the next year, the SSE “Chornobyl NPP” will foster all efforts to work performance regarding acquisition of a license for processing and storage of radioactive waste being generated during Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system, within operation of the Confinement, including Shelter facility.
“Obtaining the specific permission for pilot operation of NSC Commissioning Stage 1 is the outcome of well-coordinated work of Ukrainian central government bodies, SSE “Chornobyl NPP” and the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety. Owing to such teamwork, as well as continuous surveillance and control for nuclear and radiation safety on the plant’s site from the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, we step by step are approaching our major goal that is Shelter transformation into an environmentally safe system”, the Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management Mr. Serhii Kalashnyk pointed out.