22th April 2021 – positive decision was made by the board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine on granting the SSE Chornobyl NPP an operating license for the nuclear facility, thus authorizing the load of spent nuclear fuel into the dry storage systems.

This became possible following successful «cold» and «hot» testing carried out at the facility, elimination of faults noted in the comments during the tests, and approval of the Final Safety Analysis Report which involved large amount of works performed by the ChNPP staff aimed at ensuring safety of the new SNF storage facility.

The culmination of the activities was 18 November and 14 December 2020, when two double-walled canisters (DWC – patent held by Holtec International) loaded with RBMK spent nuclear fuel were successfully placed for storage into the Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility 2 (hereinafter – ISF-2). The loading was done by operators trained by Holtec.

«Based on the discussion, the Regulator suggests that the conclusions of the nuclear and radiation safety expert review of the «Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility. Final Safety Analysis Report» submitted by SSE Chornobyl NPP be endorsed. Authorize the Nuclear Facilities Safety Department to carry out license issuing activities to award the SSE Chornobyl NPP an operating license for the ISF-2 nuclear facility operation», — said SNRIU Chairman Hryhorii Plachkov. Flawless performance of «hot» tests carried out by ChNPP personnel in Autumn 2020, and obtaining a license is the result of the efforts taken for more than two decades aimed at putting this important facility into operation.

«This essential milestone has been achieved due to years of dedicated work and joint efforts by ChNPP, Holtec, SNRIU, SSTC NRS and other involved parties. Obtaining an operating license shows that the technology and handling processes for spent nuclear fuel introduced at ISF-2 meet current legislative requirements of Ukraine and IAEA recommendations, and ensure the safe management of ChNPP spent nuclear fuel. Activities on transferring spent fuel assemblies from the wet-type spent fuel storage facility to ISF-2 are going to be our top priority», — said ChNPP Acting Director General Valeriy Seyda. 

FYI. The Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2) is the facility designed for acceptance, processing and storage of spent fuel assemblies accumulated at Chornobyl NPP.

About 21 thousand spent fuel assemblies will be transferred from the old wet-type spent fuel storage facility, processed, loaded into canisters and placed for storage.

The ISF-2 was designed to process the minimum annual capacity of 2500 spent fuel assemblies.

ISF-2 construction was financed through the Nuclear Safety Account and by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.