Category: Nuclear Industry

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

A new team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency crossed the frontline this week to replace their colleagues in monitoring nuclear safety and security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the thirteenth such mission since the IAEA last year established a permanent presence at the site to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Also on Thursday – when the rotation of IAEA experts took place – there were Russian reports of drone attacks in the town of Enerhodar, where many plant staff live.

Almost every day in recent weeks and months, the IAEA experts have continued to hear explosions some distance away from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP), underlining ever-present dangers to nuclear safety and security.

“For fourteen months now, we have had IAEA experts present at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, monitoring nuclear safety and security and informing the world about developments there. Their work is vital for efforts to keep this major nuclear facility safe and protect people and the environment in Ukraine and beyond. However, the risk remains. Our important work continues as long as it is necessary,” Director General Grossi said.

Over the past week, the IAEA experts have continued to perform walkdowns at the site,  visiting its facilities for storing fresh fuel, the emergency diesel generators of unit 1, the  open switchyard of the 750 kilovolt power line, the central warehouse and the temporary emergency response centre. They were informed that an emergency exercise is planned for November, the first since before the conflict.

The experts have also been at the ZNPP’s cooling pond and associated areas, where they observed cleaning of the outlet channel of the cooling towers. The IAEA team was informed that the current shutdown status of the ZNPP’s six reactors provided an opportunity to perform this cleaning work.

Following last month’s closure of the reactor vessel of unit 3, which had been left open following maintenance in 2022, the plant informed the IAEA experts that pressure testing of the unit’s steam generators was under way and would be completed over the weekend, after which testing on the primary and secondary cooling circuits will be conducted. Today, the ZNPP confirmed to the IAEA experts that unit 3 would be kept in cold shutdown following the completion of the pressure tests.

An open reactor vessel together with the adjacent spent fuel storage pool contains borated water which might be pumped and used for cooling of fuel in any of the six units, if needed. However, additional volumes of borated water are also stored in two special buildings at the ZNPP site. The reactor vessel closure improves the nuclear safety status of the unit.

The ZNPP confirmed to the IAEA experts this week that there are no plans to re-start any of the units, four of which are in cold shutdown and two in hot shutdown to generate steam for various nuclear safety functions and heating for Enerhodar during the winter.

The IAEA continues to pay close attention to maintenance activities at the site, with maintenance of equipment essential for plant safety a continued source of concern.

“The reduced number of maintenance staff at the plant and the limited availability of all necessary spare parts have the potential to impact the operation of safety systems. It is essential that all necessary maintenance is performed,” Director General Grossi said.

Related to such activities, the IAEA experts were informed that maintenance of part of the safety system of unit 6, as well as hydraulic testing of its primary cooling circuit, was completed this week.

The IAEA experts are also continuing to collect information on the status and condition of staff, as well as on the training and licensing of operating staff at the plant under Russian Federation regulations.

As part of preparations for the winter, the ZNPP has begun to insulate the ground water wells that have been constructed near the water sprinkler pond area as an alternative source of cooling water following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June. The insulation is intended to ensure that the wells continue to provide cooling water to these ponds, which in turn provide essential cooling of the six reactors, during the winter.

The IAEA team has continued to request access to the rooftops of reactor units 1, 5 and 6, after in recent months being able to go to those areas of the ZNPP’s three other units.

The IAEA experts also need access to all six turbine halls together. However, they were only granted partial access to the turbine hall of reactor unit 2 on 27 October, after earlier the same month receiving similarly restrictive access to the turbine halls of units 1 and 4.

Eight of the plant’s nine mobile diesel boilers are currently operating to generate more heating during the winter, their usage depending on the requirements for steam at the plant and for heating in Enerhodar.

The IAEA teams at Ukraine’s three other NPPs – the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs – and the Chornobyl site report safe and secure operations of these nuclear facilities despite the continuation of the conflict.

This week, the IAEA carried out its 31th delivery of equipment to Ukraine to support nuclear safety and security in the country. State enterprise USIE Izotop and the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine received portable gamma-radiation detectors donated by Greece.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The tritium concentration in the third batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) started discharging today, is far below the country’s operational limit, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at the site confirmed.

IAEA experts stationed at the IAEA Fukushima NPS Office took samples from the third batch of diluted water on 30 October, after it was prepared for discharge. Using Agency equipment, the IAEA’s independent on-site analysis confirmed that the tritium concentration in the diluted water that is being discharged is far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per litre.

Japan is discharging the ALPS treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) in batches. The IAEA has confirmed that both previous batches – which started on August 24 and October 5 – also contained tritium concentrations far below operational limits.

Last week, the IAEA Task Force conducting the ongoing safety review of the water discharge said that the release was progressing as planned and without any technical concerns.

All reports on sampling, independent analysis and data evaluation will be available on the IAEA website.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission said the Czech Republic has established a solid basis for the safe and responsible management of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The IAEA team also provided recommendations and suggestions regarding plans for a deep geological repository (DGR) and to ensure readiness for a potential expansion and prolongation of the country’s nuclear power programme.

The Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) review team concluded a ten-day mission to the Czech Republic on 25 October. The mission was requested by the Government to support the Czech Republic’s need to meet EU obligations for independent reviews of national frameworks and programmes for managing radioactive waste and spent fuel. It considered the findings from a recent IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) review mission.

The Czech Republic operates six nuclear power reactors at two nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country’s south: four units at Dukovany NPP and two at Temelin NPP. The Government has initiated a tender for a new unit in Dukovany. It also evaluates the possible construction of one more unit in Dukovany and one or two new units in Temelín. The country is preparing a policy for deploying small and medium-sized (or modular) reactors to reduce carbon emissions in industrial sectors and district heating.

After storage in pools for seven to ten years, spent fuel is kept in dry storage facilities at the NPP sites. A shallow land repository for low-level radioactive waste from both NPPs is located at the Dukovany NPP site. The Government plans to commission a deep geological repository for spent fuel and shortlisted four possible sites in 2020.

A repository for low and intermediate-level waste from medical and industrial use is situated in a former limestone mine, Richard, near Litoměřice in the north of the Czech Republic. Another repository for waste from health, industry and research sectors containing naturally occurring radionuclides can be found near Jáchymov in the northwestern part of the country.

ARTEMIS reviews provide independent expert assessments using teams of international specialist peer reviewers convened by the IAEA. They can cover all aspects and topics related to managing radioactive waste and spent fuel, decommissioning and remediation. Reviews are based on the IAEA safety standards, technical guidance, and international good practices.

The ARTEMIS review team comprised six experts from France, Hungary, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Sweden, the United Kingdom and two IAEA staff members.

The team held extensive discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Czech Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (SÚRAO), the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB), the operator of the NPPs (ČEZ), and the Nuclear Research Institute Řež (ÚJV Řež). The team also visited the Richard facility, where they received briefings on the waste package testing site and the underground caverns holding low and intermediate-level waste.

The team commended the strong commitment of the Government and all involved organizations to ensure the safe management of radioactive waste. It concluded that many relevant aspects for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel are in place.

“The Czech Republic has put in place many aspects relevant to the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel,” said ARTEMIS team leader Sylvie Voinis, Deputy Director of Safety, Environment and Waste Management strategy at the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA). “By adequately considering the outcomes of the present review, the Czech Republic will be in a good position to continue meeting high standards of safety for radioactive waste and spent fuel management in the country.”

The team also provided recommendations and suggestions to maintain and further improve the safe management of radioactive waste in the Czech Republic, including:

• The Government should consider undertaking an in-depth review of the potential impacts on the financing arrangements of an expanded scope and extended duration of the country’s nuclear power programme.
• The Government should consider undertaking a review of the potential impact of radioactive waste and spent fuel from additional nuclear power reactors which could be included in a future State Energy Policy.
• SÚRAO should consider further enhancing plans and resources for engagement with interested parties, in particular with potential host communities, to ensure sustained and effective engagement beyond the site selection phase of the DGR.

The review team also acknowledged the mechanisms for verifying the alignment of the individual organizations’ strategies with the national policy and for ensuring the alignment between the strategies as a good practice.

“SURAO, as a waste disposal implementor, highly appreciates all technical discussions and observations that underline the good basis for safe and responsible waste management. It is based on the high technical competence and the solid performance of all organizations and facilities ensuring the safety of radioactive waste disposal in the Czech Republic,” said Lukáš Vondrovic, SÚRAO Director.  

“On behalf of the Czech counterparts, we appreciate the approach of foreign experts and thank them for the intensive discussion in the last ten days. The observations and recommendations will help us to improve the radioactive waste and spent fuel management framework and programme, an essential part of the nuclear programme development in the Czech Republic. We are confident that we have set a good path for further improving the plans for the future DGR,” said Tomáš Ehler, acting Director General of the Section of Energy and Nuclear Sources of the Ministry of Industry.

The final report from the review will be provided to the Government of the Czech Republic in two months.

About ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS is an integrated expert review service for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and remediation programmes. This service is intended for facility operators and organizations responsible for radioactive waste management, as well as for regulators, national policymakers and other decision-makers.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. IAEA documents, such as Nuclear Energy Series publications, are also included in the review basis. They include practical examples to be used by owners and operators of utilities, implementing organizations, academia, and government officials in Member States, among others.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Estonia has developed a comprehensive assessment of its nuclear power infrastructure needs to enable the government to decide whether to launch a nuclear power programme, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said today.

The IAEA team concluded an eight day mission to Estonia to review the country’s infrastructure development for a nuclear power programme. The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) was carried out at the request of the Government of Estonia.

Estonia, seeking to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, is looking at nuclear power as a reliable and low carbon option to diversify its energy mix by 2035 when the country plans its phase-out of domestic oil shale. The plans for nuclear energy are focussed on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) as a solution for climate-neutral electricity production and security of energy supply.  SMRs are the focus of increased global interest due to their ability to meet the need for flexible and affordable power generation for a wider range of users.

A Nuclear Energy Working Group was established in 2021 by the government to review the nuclear infrastructure required for the nuclear power programme. Its comprehensive report – planned to be finalized in December 2023 – will provide recommendations to support the Government to make a decision regarding the nuclear energy programme.

The INIR team comprised of three international experts from Brazil and the United Kingdom, as well as six IAEA staff. It reviewed the status of 19 nuclear infrastructure issues using the IAEA evaluation methodology for Phase 1 of the Milestones Approach which evaluates the readiness of a country to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear power programme.

The mission team noted good practices in Estonia’s approach. It has commissioned a comprehensive set of detailed studies with the support of external experts as part of its assessment to be presented to the Government to support a knowledgeable decision. The team also said the country’s strategy to support future human resource development aims to ensure the short-term and long-term success of the nuclear power programme. Finally, the inclusion of a review of possible locations for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel in its assessment will help provide greater confidence to the public in Estonia’s ability to manage waste disposal.

“Estonia is well-organized in its preparations towards the decision on launching a nuclear power programme to support the country’s just transition towards net zero carbon emissions,” said Eric Mathet, Operational Lead of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section and Team Leader for the mission. “During the cooperative and open discussions held over the past days, we observed the strong commitment from Estonia’s highly motivated and competent professionals to developing the infrastructure needed for a nuclear power programme.”

The team said that Estonia now needs to finalize its comprehensive report to support the decision on a potential nuclear power programme, including with clear timelines for the major activities. The team also found that Estonia needs to complete its plans and policies and give further consideration to the development of its legal and regulatory framework to support the next phase of the programme.

Antti Tooming, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate and Head of the Nuclear Energy Working Group said he welcomed the team’s findings which will be integrated into the working group’s comprehensive report. “The mission provided us with reassurance that we are on the right track with our nuclear energy considerations and gave us valuable insights for follow-up activities in the next phase if Estonia decides to embark on nuclear power.”

Based on the outcomes of the INIR Mission, the IAEA and Estonia will develop an Integrated Workplan to provide coordinated support in line with the future development of the country’s nuclear power programme. 

About INIR Missions

INIR missions are based on the IAEA Milestones Approach, with its 19 Infrastructure Issues, three phases (consider, prepare, construct) and three milestones (decide, contract, commission and operate). INIR missions enable IAEA Member State representatives to have in-depth discussions with international experts about experiences and best practices in different countries.

In developing its recommendations, the INIR team considers the comments made by the relevant national organizations. Implementation of any of the team’s recommendations and suggestions is at the discretion of the Member State requesting the mission. The results of the INIR mission are expected to help the Member State develop an action plan to fill any gaps, which in turn will help the development of the national nuclear infrastructure. INIR follow-up missions assess the implementation of the recommendations and suggestions provided during the main mission.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have assessed the damage caused by this week’s powerful explosions near Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP), observing 26 broken windows but reporting no impact on nuclear safety and security at the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

The IAEA team present at the KhNPP has conducted a thorough walkdown at the site after blast waves early on Wednesday morning shattered windows in several of its buildings and briefly cut external power to two off-site radiation monitoring stations. Ukraine said it had shot down two drones five and 20 kilometres from the plant, respectively.

The KhNPP is now installing thin metal sheets to replace the damaged windows until permanent replacements can be procured. One reactor is continuing to operate, while the second unit remains in planned outage since early August.

Separately, the IAEA is aware of Russian reports of three drones identified in an area near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KuNPP) in the south of the Russian Federation, one of which exploded causing minor damage to the façade of the building where spent nuclear fuel is stored. It is reported there were no casualties and the radiation levels at the site of the KuNPP do not exceed the established norms.

“This week’s events show that nuclear safety and security remains potentially precarious, not only at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA will remain present at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities to monitor and inform the world about developments. We will continue to do everything in our power to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict,” Director General Grossi said.

At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team there has over the past week continued to conduct walkdowns across the site, visiting its cooling pond, isolation gates, cooling towers, its outlet channel, as well as the outlet channel of the nearby Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP). No mines or explosives were observed.

The team has continued to request access to the rooftops of reactor units 1, 5 and 6, after in recent months being able to go to those areas of the ZNPP’s three other units.

The IAEA experts also need access to all six turbine halls together. However, they were only granted partial access to the turbine hall of reactor unit 1 on 23 October, five days after they received similarly restrictive access to the turbine hall of unit 4.

Maintenance activities are continuing to be performed on the safety systems of unit 6 after it was moved to cold shutdown earlier this month. Of the other reactors, units 4 and 5 are in hot shutdown to generate steam for nuclear safety related functions and heating for the nearby town of Enerhodar, while the remaining three continue to be in cold shutdown.

The IAEA team this week also visited the mobile diesel boilers that the plant has started operating as part of additional efforts to generate more heating during the winter, their usage depending on the requirements for steam at the plant and for heating in Enerhodar, where most staff live. Currently, four of the nine installed boilers are in operation. The experts observed that the boilers were in good condition, with fire safety labels on all of them. The team was also informed that a fire alarm system had been installed. The IAEA was also informed of 57 such boilers installed in Enerhodar, as well as two larger boilers at the ZTPP and one in its industrial area.

Regarding the supply chain and delivery of spare parts for the ZNPP – one of seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security during the conflict – the IAEA experts were recently informed that the plant has adapted its procurement process to align it with that of the Russian Federation. In addition, they were told that supplies of consumables and spare parts are now delivered from the Russian Federation, covering about 90 percent of needs. However, the IAEA assesses that the supply chain logistics remain challenging.

During the past week, the ZNPP has been finalizing the closure of unit 3 reactor vessel, with the ongoing sealing of the reactor head, the IAEA experts said.

The IAEA teams at Ukraine’s two other NPPs – the Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs – and the Chornobyl site report safe and secure operations of these nuclear facilities despite the continuation of the conflict.

This week, the IAEA carried out its 30th delivery of equipment to Ukraine to support nuclear safety and security in the country. The state regulatory body, SNRIU, received survey meters with a neutron detection capacity and the SUNPP received portable dissolved hydrogen analysers, vibro-analysers, and related accessories. The equipment was procured using extrabudgetary contributions from Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. With this delivery, the IAEA has supported Ukraine with nuclear safety and security equipment worth more than seven million euro since the start of the armed conflict.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The discharge of treated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) is progressing as planned and without any technical concerns, the Task Force set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed after its mission this week to review the safety of the discharge with reference to the international safety standards, two months after it began.

During the mission from 24 to 27 October, the Task Force – comprised of IAEA and international experts – reviewed the facilities and equipment installed at the FDNPS site for the purposes of discharging the ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) treated water. The Task Force also engaged in technical discussions with Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant operator and staff at the site, and reviewed available data and operational experience regarding the first two discharges that occurred from August to October this year.

During the mission the Task Force also met with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).

The IAEA’s comprehensive report issued on July 4 this year found Japan’s plan for handling the treated water to be consistent with international safety standards and that the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment. It was a culmination of two years of work by the IAEA Task Force, which includes external experts from 11 countries – Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam.

“The IAEA’s comprehensive report was a significant milestone regarding the phase prior to the release, but it is not the end of our work,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The IAEA is now focussing on ongoing and long-term activities to review Japan’s continued application of the relevant international safety standards. The IAEA safety review, including monitoring and corroboration activities, will continue to proceed in an independent, objective, science-based and transparent manner, during the discharge and after.”

The four day Task Force visit was preceded by IAEA experts and international scientific observers conducting the first extensive sampling of the marine environment near FDNPS since the start of the treated water discharges. These samples will be used to corroborate Japan’s environmental monitoring and to confirm Japan’s capability to determine any changes in the levels of radionuclides in the marine environment since the water discharges began on August 24. This sampling, independent analysis and data evaluation work is one aspect of the Agency’s safety review.

During its visit to the FDNPS, the Task Force performed a walkdown of the water discharge facilities. Accompanied by TEPCO staff, the Task Force observed the tanks holding the water prepared for discharge, the transfer pumps driving the water through the discharge system, the emergency isolation valves and the control room where the process is monitored 24/7 by TEPCO staff. The Task Force also examined the radiation monitors and flow rate detectors feeding live data to the IAEA’s dedicated real time monitoring page.

Gustavo Caruso, Chair of the Task Force, said the technical assessment this week focused on the interface between the IAEA’s safety review prior to the discharge and now during the discharge. “Our comprehensive approach allows the Task Force to make direct observations on site to link what is happening now that the water is being discharged against our conclusions from the comprehensive report,” said Caruso. “No issues were identified during our visit to the facilities this week and we will continue our review to assess whether the IAEA’s findings from our comprehensive report remain valid.”

Conducting regular Task Force review missions is one way in which the IAEA will continue its multiyear safety review. IAEA Director General Grossi agreed in July with Japan that the Agency will also continue its monitoring and assessment of the process, to continuously staff the IAEA Fukushima Daiichi NPS Office, perform ongoing review missions, corroborate Japan’s source and environmental monitoring programmes, and continue outreach and awareness activities.

The main outcomes from the Task Force’s mission this week will be summarized in a report to be made publicly available by the end of the year.

Separately this week, Tepco reported an operational incident that occurred at the FDNPS water treatment facility on October 25. The Agency’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS Office remains in contact with the Japanese counterparts at the plant, to review the consistency of the measures taken by the operator with regard to the international safety standards.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Powerful explosions shook an area near Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP) overnight, shattering many windows at the site and temporarily cutting power to some off-site radiation monitoring stations, once again highlighting the dangers to nuclear safety and security during the ongoing military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

IAEA experts present at the plant in western Ukraine said air raid sirens went off at 1:26am local time, followed later in the morning by the sound of two loud explosions. They were subsequently informed that two drones had been shot down at a distance of approximately five and 20 kilometres from the site, respectively.

“This incident again underlines the extremely precarious nuclear safety situation in Ukraine, which will continue as long as this tragic war goes on. The fact that numerous windows at the site were destroyed shows just how close it was. Next time, we may not be so fortunate,” Director General Grossi said. “Hitting a nuclear power plant must be avoided at all costs.”

There was no direct impact from the drones on the site and the blasts did not affect the KhNPP’s operations or its connection to the national electricity grid. However, the shockwaves damaged the windows of several buildings at the site, including the passageway to the reactor buildings, an auxiliary building, a special equipment building, the training centre, as well as other facilities, the plant said. The seismic monitoring stations installed in the vicinity of the KhNPP also recorded the seismic impacts of the blasts.

The IAEA experts later observed some of the shattered windows at the site. The exact extent of the damage is currently being assessed by the IAEA team and further information will be provided.

A power outage in the nearby region of Slavuta forced two of the plant’s 11 off-site radiation monitoring stations to temporarily rely on back-up power supplies before external electricity was restored in the afternoon. Furthermore, as a result of damage sustained in the nearby town of Netishyn, some KhNPP staff were working from home, the plant said.

The KhNPP has two reactors, of which one is currently operating, and one is in planned outage since early August.

The IAEA was notified about these events also via the Unified System for Information Exchange in Incidents and Emergencies by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.