Experts of the World Association of NPP Operators Evaluate the Work of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant

ArmInfo. From August 24 to September 8, 2017, at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, a group of international experts underwent peer reviews. Experts are involved by the Moscow Center of the World Association of Organizations Operating Nuclear Power Plants (WANO).

It should be noted that WANO is not a supervisory authority. It was founded in May 1989 by the operating organizations of the nuclear power plant for the exchange of operational experience. At present, all organizations operating nuclear power plants, including the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, are members of WANO, which operates independently of state and regulatory bodies and works exclusively on behalf of and in the interests of its members - nuclear power plants. Membership in WANO allows, taking into account in their practice the experience of other nuclear power plants, to achieve high results and improve the reliability of operation of nuclear power plants. Armenia's cooperation with WANO is not limited to checks alone.

Often, the Association organizes visits to other nuclear power facilities for ANPP specialists in order to study best practices. So, on July 24-28, Armenian specialists studied the best practices of Smolensk NPP in the field of labor protection. This visit was carried out as part of the WANO experience exchange program.  In addition, with the active participation of the Association, ANPP staff members underwent emergency training at the Kola NPP. Participation of Armenian representatives in such events allows them to increase their professionalism, apply advanced practices in the workplace, which undoubtedly contributes to the safety level of nuclear power plants. Experts in the nuclear industry from Ukraine took part in the current audit. In Ukraine there are 4 nuclear power plants with 6 power units, one of which is Zaporozhskaya - with a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW. is the largest in Europe. By the number of power reactors, Ukraine is among the five leaders in the number of operated nuclear reactors. Now the share of electricity generated from Ukrainian NPPs in the country's total energy balance is about 60%In conversation with corr. ArmInfo, the head of the group, a representative of the VAO at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Viktor Livinsky, said that partner inspections are held every four years. In May this year, a preliminary visit to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant of 6 representatives of the WAO.

Then, a protocol was signed to conduct an affiliate inspection. "It was also very important to get the first impressions, to conduct a preliminary inspection of the station," the expert said, adding that the purpose of the partnership check is to assist the Armenian NPP in achieving the highest safety performance. 19 experts from 8 countries were invited to the station. They monitored the work at the station, held discussions and interviews with NPP personnel. Based on the results of partner audits of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, recommendations will be presented that take into account international experience gained in nuclear energy. The implementation of these recommendations will improve the safe operation of the nuclear facility. "It is very important that the word" verification "be interpreted as the word" help. "One of the most important activities of the HLW is to increase the safety of all nuclear power plants in the world.

All the centers of the Association in Atlanta, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow are studying the state of nuclear power plants in their region. The main task of inspections is to improve the level of operation, follow the national and international regulatory documents on the operation of nuclear power plants. increasing the level of safety of nuclear power plants, "Viktor Livinsky noted, noting that a frivolous attitude toward safety-related issues is fraught with very serious consequences, such as the accidents at the Three Mile Island (US) nuclear power plants, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (USSR) and in Fukushima (Japan). These incidents are clear evidence of the need for due regard for their work on the part of each employee of the station - a locksmith, a crawler, an operator, an engineer, a general director. Nuclear security depends on their joint work. "It's not just words, having 34 years of experience in the nuclear power industry, I know very well that there are simply no trifles in this work.  The task of our team is to study and present the best world practices to the leadership of the Armenian NPP," said Victor Livinsky .He pointed out that cooperation with the Armenian nuclear power plant is of a mutual nature. "On the one hand, talking with colleagues, you raise yourself the level of their knowledge, on the other hand, you pass on your experience.  In other words, it is an exchange of experience. There is a very good concept - accounting of external experience, which we want to offer to the leadership of the Armenian NPP. Our task is to propose world trends for application at the station, "the expert said, adding that" the cooperation of the WAO with Armenia is in full swing.