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    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.

    During the week, from May 14 to May 18, the technical support mission of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (hereinafter: WANO) devoted to review the methodology and practice for the nuclide vectors identification was held at Chernobyl NPP.

    The timeliness of the topic discussed within the mission is caused by presence of difficult-to-measure radionuclides in the radioactive waste (hereinafter: RAW) of Chernobyl NPP. ChNPP intends to assess their activity by combining the measurement of the key radionuclides activity directly and calculation of the difficult-to-measure radionuclides activity using a predetermined scaling factor, that is, by the nuclide vector method.

    This topic is important for ChNPP in two aspects. The first aspect is related to the commissioning of the Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management (hereinafter: ICSRM). The problem was identified in 2015 during the Phase II of ICSRM commissioning. Based on the testing results it was revealed that the activity of a number of nuclides, in particular, U, Pu, Am, is assessed incorrectly by the existing radiation and technological control system, and, as a result, that doesn’t allow to draw up the corresponding passport for the Radioactive Waste package.

    On April 27, the workers from Clean Futures Fund, Chernobyl NPP and NOVARKA company have brought out 12 puppies from the New Safe Confinement construction site.

    The process is taken place under 5-year project “Chernobyl Dogs” for sterilization and vaccination of dogs from Chernobyl Exclusion Zone started in 2017. The project goal is to reduce animal population naturally by means of sterilizing them, therefore, to create safer conditions for the employees of Chernobyl NPP and Exclusion Zone.

    The Clean Futures Fund Co-founder Lucas Hixson comments the process of dog transportation: “We finally got permission to start rescuing some of the puppies from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and bring them back to America for adoption and to go to forever homes. Today we are going to bring 12 dogs out of local zone. In total we would like to see up to 200 adopted dogs”.

    “The dogs are going to go through dosimetry check, then get washed. We are going to take them to Slavutych, where we have established puppies sanctuary at the hippodrome. They are going to stay there for the next 45 days.

    We have special trainers that will be working with them every day. On the weekends people will be able to come and play with the puppies at the hippodrome. Everything is ready for this. Then in June these dogs will fly back with us to the USA and we will bring them to the families that are adopting them”, Mr. Hixson shares his plans.

    On 26th April President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko visited the Chernobyl NPP site. The visit was made within the scope of events dedicated to the 32nd anniversary of the ChNPP accident.

    The first facility visited by the President was an Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility (hereinafter – ISF-2). This facility is designed for the acceptance, processing and directly storage of spent fuel assemblies (nuclear fuel) accumulated at the Chernobyl NPP during its operational period. Currently all basic technological equipment has been installed in the storage facility and “cold” tests are underway.

    At the ISF-2 ChNPP Director General Igor Gramotkin and Safety Improvement Chief Engineer Andrii Savin briefed the President on the work progress.

    Following visiting the ISF-2 Petro Poroshenko put flowers to the monument to the Heroes of Chornobyl and presented state awards to the accident liquidators – the ChNPP employees. In his speech the President noted: “Just now I have examined the state of readiness of the Interim Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility and only the principled position of the operators, under the strict directives of the Government, ensures the guaranteed quality and safety of operation of this crucial facility in the future.”

    1. Press Announcement
    2. Visit of the Verkhovna Rada Committee
    3. Press Tour at the NPP
    4. Adoption in the first reading of the Law "On Amendments to the National Program on Decommissioning of the Chernobyl NPP and Transformation of the Shelter Object into an Environmentally Safe System"

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