Since 9th of April, Chornobyl NPP has fully restored control over chemical parameters of water-chemical regime of the Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel No.1 (ISF-1). ChNPP Deputy Technical Director (for RAW Management) Oleksandr Skomarokhov informed about this.

The control was partially suspended due to the occupation of the ChNPP industrial site by russian forces from 24 February to 31 March 2022, and impossibility to deliver the relevant qualified personnel to the site.

The partial suspension of this control from 25 March 2022 was agreed on with the regulator (State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine).

Spent nuclear fuel is being stored at ISF-1 fully immersed in water. Here the water fulfils two functions: removal of residual heat and radiation protection of personnel. By controlling chemical parameters of the water with fuel inside, the ChNPP specialists can determine any unfavorable processes with fuel.

Watch more: Nuclear Fuel Transportation: Process From A to Z

During the russian occupation, the ChNPP operating staff was remotely trained to take water samples and control the water chemical parameters, but such control was not performed in full.

The control was fully restored thanks to free of ChNPP area from the occupiers and possibility to deliver the relevant qualified personnel to the ChNPP site to control chemical parameters of the ISF-1 water-chemical regime.