The European Commission signed a service contract with IDOM Consulting, Engineering and Architecture S.A.U. (Spain), being a leader in the consortium with another Spain company “GRUPPO DOMINGUIS” and Ukrainian Institute for NPP Operation Support (IOS NPP), under the Project “Improvement of National Personnel Training System in RAW Management, Decommissioning and Area Rehabilitation”.

The project is aimed at establishment of the coordinated system of occupational training, re-training and advanced training of personnel in Ukraine who perform activities relating to management of radioactive waste (RAW) and spent ionizing radiation sources (SIRS). Safety of these activities, decommissioning-related operations, rehabilitation of the areas contaminated with radionuclides will be improved by means of improving the personnel training system at all levels.

The State Agency of Exclusion Zone Management of Ukraine is the Beneficiary of the project, and SSE “Chernobyl NPP” and State Higher Educational Establishment “Ukrainian Radiological Training Centre” (URTC) are its end users. It is expected to implement the project during three years.

Tests of the damaged nuclear fuel handling table were completed on 2017 New Year's Eve. This was the last factory tests of equipment for the Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility (ISF-2), the project on construction of which is under implementation at the Chernobyl NPP. Following that the equipment will be transported from Germany, where it was manufactured, to Ukraine and delivered to the Chernobyl NPP site.

“By the end of March 2017 we have to finish not only all construction and installation works, but also individual tests, as well as comprehensive testing of separate systems, – Chief Engineer of Safety Improvement Project Andrii Savin informed. – This is necessary in order to start comprehensive “cold” tests of the whole ISF-2 in April.”

This is to inform you that that a press-tour to the Chernobyl NPP for members of the Ukrainian and foreign media will be organized on December 22, 2016.

During the press-tour the media members will visit:

- Chernobyl NPP industrial site (NSC);
- Interim Spent Fuel Dry-type Storage Facility construction site (ISF-2).

The meeting of the Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine was held on December 1, 2016, in course of which the issue "On the approaches to the licensing of Confinement operation, including Chernobyl NPP "Shelter" object" has been considered.

Currently activity at the Chernobyl NPP "Shelter" object is carried out under the License EO series No 000033 issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee on December 30, 2001. Period of license validity is till the New Safe Confinement (hereinafter: NSC) commissioning.

According to the plans of the State Enterprises Chernobyl NPP and the Contractor for NSC designing and construction, the facility construction completion is expected in November 2017. After the NSC first stage commissioning Chernobyl NPP should obtain a new license for its operation.