2. Infocenter
    3. News

    On June 13, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation accompanied by SNRIU Chairman Mr Gregoriy Plachkov arrived at Chernobyl NPP with familiarization visit.

    According to SNRIU information, IAEA met to discuss the subject of IAEA Safeguards application in Ukraine. Within the meeting in SNRIU office details of the unannounced IAEA inspections introduction in Ukraine were discussed. Special attention was paid to inspection on checking of spent fuel assemblies with a long-term cooling time, low level of burnup, as well to spent fuel assemblies damaged and stored in the cooling pools.

    In framework of the meeting at Chernobyl NPP the experts visited Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility -2 (ISF-2) and New Safe Confinement construction sites.

    The next stage of homeless animals transportation from Chоrnobyl NPP site is started. It is implemented within the framework of the 5-year project "Chоrnobyl Dogs" aimed on sterilization and vaccination of dogs within the Chоrnobyl Exclusion zone.

    On June 6, the employers of Clean Future Fund, Chоrnobyl NPP and Novarka Company transported another 11 stray dogs from the New Safe Confinement construction site. All dogs will be vaccinated and sterilized, some of them will be exported to USA for acceptance in families, permanent houses will be found for them.

    The mission carried out by the Foundation is purely humanitarian in nature, that is, neither of the dogs that are caught on the Plant’s industrial site are not impending danger or killing. On the contrary: the young livestock will be removed from the Exclusion zone, the rest of the dogs after sterilization and vaccination will return to the ecosystem, from which they were removed. The goal of the project is to sterilize animals to reduce their population naturally, thereby create a safe environment for Chоrnobyl NPP and Exclusion zone employees.

    We remind you that the project of dogs removal from Chоrnobyl NPP site started at the end of April 2018: on April 27, the first 12 puppies were removed. In general, the Fund plans to remove about 200 puppies from the Plant’s site for acceptance them into families.

    Smoke spread and grass cover and underbrush ignition was revealed at the territory of 10-km Exclusion zone (near Chernobyl NPP’s switchyard - 330) on June 5, 2018 at 10:00. State Fire and Rescue Brigade No. 11 was informed about that. Firefighting brigades started to extinguish the fire in the shortest time.

    At the moment the individual fire sources elimination is underway. There are no fires at ChNPP industrial site territory, threat of the fire spreading to Chernobyl NPP’s facilities isn’t observed.

    This incident did not have a negative impact on the radiation situation at Chernobyl NPP industrial site. At the moment, exceedance of the control levels established for certain territories are not registered; the radiation situation is within the norm.

    Cooperation of Chernobyl NPP with Belgian companies has started in 2016, when in the framework of the Memorandum on technical cooperation with Belgoprocess Company the quality management team-work was carried out, the analysis was performed and a risk analysis report of the Program of Radioactive Waste Management at SSE “Chernobyl NPP” Site was prepared. On the same occasion the ChNPP specialists visited BELGOPROCESS Company to study best practices in implementing the quality management system, and risk management methods in RAW management. These activities were funded by the Belgian Government.

    In 2017, additionally to the already-existing program, the Belgian Government allocated funds to train ChNPP specialists in maintenance and repair of BROKK manipulators used at the Solid RAW Management Plant. In September 2017, the specialists from TECHNUBEL Company provided training on ChNPP site for Radioactive Waste Management Shop personnel, including both theoretical and practical sessions.

    In 2018, the Belgian Government continued the assistance to Chernobyl NPP. Starting from May 28, the next phase of cooperation has been started: during the week, the Belgian specialists, having longstanding practical experience and wide knowledge regarding specific installations will provide a special training called “BROKK 180: Expert Level” on Chernobyl NPP site in maintenance of the remotely operated manipulators and repair of BROKK equipment.

    In 2017, after the Arch sliding into the design position personnel at the Radiation Safety Shop (hereinafter: RSS) performed work on dose rate measuring in the New Safe Confinement (hereinafter: NSC) near-zone. These works were performed to evaluate the anti-radiation protection effectiveness. Read more here.

    In 2018 RSS personnel continues to perform similar activities to identify dose rate around the NSC. At the moment measurements are performed from the northern and southern sides of the Arch.

    As informed by the Deputy Head of Radiation Safety Shop Leonid Yakovenko, the approach to measurement remained the same as in September 2017 — with use of an unmanned aercraft. But now "MiniTrace" radio-dosimeters are used as radiation monitoring tools, which are attached to the opticopter's body and introduced into the target point of control. Dose rates are measured at the heights of 30, 60 and 90 meters above the industrial site level".

    The main goal of measurement is to assess the dose rate at heights. In the future this will make it possible to compare the obtained now results with the results that will be obtained after completion of Shelter object unstable constructions dismantling. The beginning of dismantling is scheduled for 2019.

    The measurements results will be presented in the form of a final report after the unstable structures dismantling. Interim report will be issued this year.

    1. World Association of Nuclear Operators mission is underway at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
    2. First 12 dogs brought out from New Safe Confinement site
    3. President of Ukraine visited the Chernobyl NPP
    4. Press Announcement

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