On the 7th of September, SSE ChNPP obtained a specific permit for commissioning of a nuclear facility – the Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2).

This permit opens the door for commencing “hot” tests at the facility. The tests provide for transportation of 186 real spent fuel assemblies (SFAs) into a new storage facility. The SFAs after their processing will be placed into the concrete storage modules.

A decision to issue the specific permit was approved by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU). The decision takes into account the positive results of the state nuclear and radiation safety expert review and the inspection of the SNRIU’s Commission on review the capability of SSE ChNPP to perform activities on transportation, processing and storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF).

“Today we are making significant step ahead aimed at improving the safety of nuclear energy use, as the commencement of ISF-2 commissioning activities will allow for not only improving the safety level of SNF storage, but also intensifying the Chornobyl NPP decommissioning,” — emphasized in his speech a Chairman of SNRIU, Hryhorii Plachkov.

First Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Bohdan Borukhovskyi, marked the significant result of well-coordinated team work of all parties that will promote the environmental safety within the Exclusion Zone, and thanked all involved for the successful implementation of the project over more than 20 years.

Acting Director General of Chornobyl NPP, Volodymyr Pieskov, mentioned that this important milestone was achieved by hard word and joint conscientious efforts of SSE ChNPP, Holtec and its subcontractors, SNRIU, SSTC NRS and other parties over the course of many years. “A special thanks to EBRD for the project support over the entire challenging road” – noted Mr. Pieskov.

All workers, who will be involved into the “hot” testing, have passed the relevant training, and are professionals of their work. “ChNPP will make every possible effort for successful and safe “hot” testing,” — emphasized Volodymyr Pieskov.

Read also: Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2) construction progress

As a reminder, more than 21,000 fuel assemblies accumulated at the ChNPP during the electrical power generation period, i.e. from 1977 to 2000. Now they are stored in the Interim Spent Fuel Wet Storage Facility (ISF-1). The old storage facility has not been designed for the long-term storage of fuel and its operating life has been limited by 2028. Consequently, all spent fuel assemblies must be transported to a new ISF-2.

The ISF-2 commissioning will allow for the safe storage of ChNPP SNF for the next 100 years.