This file is no longer being updated. For information on
developments in the nuclear power industry, please see the Nuclear
Power Developments section.
Desnogorsk, Smolensk Oblast, 40km from Roslavl
Address: Smolenskaya AES, Desnogorsk, Smolensk Oblast, 216532
Telephone: (08153) 72350
http://www.smolensk.ru/user/desnogorsk/snpp.htm
(unofficial)
Plant Manager: Sergey Krylov
Chief Engineer: Aleksandr Spirin
RBMK-1000 LWGR
Three
Unit 1: initial criticality 9/82 (operational 9/83)
Unit 2: initial criticality 4/85 (operational 5/85)
Unit 3: initial criticality 12/89* (operational 6/90)
925 MWe per operating unit
Enriched to 2 percent
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has been assisting
with safety improvements at Smolensk, particularly focusing on improving
the safety of day-to-day operations and upgrading critical plant safety
systems. Smolensk NPP personnel have been trained in the development of
improved operating safety procedures. In addition, emergency operating
instructions to improve accident mitigation strategies have been drafted.
The transfer of training methodology and materials for safety and maintenance
measures developed at the Balakovo
Training Center to Smolensk NPP is ongoing. Instructors at Smolensk NPP have been trained in the Balakovo
safety and maintenance methodology. A pilot course in laser
shaft alignment has been implemented. To support the training
courses, Smolensk NPP was fully equipped with basic training equipment
including office machines, equipment and supplies. The tools provided to enhance maintenance
safety activities consisted of valve-seat resurfacing equipment, a pipe
lathe/weld-preparation machine and a vibration monitoring and shaft alignment
system. An analysis of the fire hazards at Smolensk NPP began by identifying
the equipment necessary for safe shutdown in the case of a fire. To
decrease fire hazards, DOE has provided Smolensk NPP with fire hazard training
for Russian analysts as well as fire doors,
fire detectors, fire protection equipment, penetration sealant material, and a fire brigade
communications system. The communications and fire
detection system was scheduled for completion in 1999.
Waste is stored at the site of the Smolensk nuclear power plant. In 1/96,
construction of a new storage facility in Desnogorsk, Smolensk Oblast,
was completed. The facility is a part of the reactor department of the
plant and represents a substantially improved version of spent fuel storage
facilities at the Kursk and Leningrad nuclear power plants. The uranium
spent fuel will be stored there for 30 years before being sent for reprocessing.
Until recently, spent fuel was stored at the power units.[1]
According to one source, the liquid waste storage facility at Smolensk
was 70-85 percent full as of October 1996.[2] However earlier reports indicate
that the facility was full as of June 1995.[3] For more information, see
the developments section of this file.
(For more recent developments,
see the Nuclear
Power Developments file):
A detailed background report on the nuclear
industry pay crisis and Smolensk NPP protests is also available.
4/16/99: RADIOACTIVE VAPOR RELEASE AT UNIT THREE
On 16 April 1999, a radioactive vapor release occurred at the third unit
of the Smolensk NPP. The vapor was ejected into the central hall of the
plant, after which the reactor was stopped and cooling operations began.
The radioactive substances escaped into the environment through the ventilation
system, but did not exceed established acceptable levels. According to
Vasiliy Petukhov, head of the Smolensk Center for Hydrometeorology and
Environmental Monitoring, from 15 April to 19 April, the gamma background
level in the town of Desnogorsk, where Smolensk NPP is located, averaged
15 microroentgen/hour (the maximum acceptable level is 20 microroentgen/hour).[1]
The accident was caused by a loss of pressure in a loading machine during
the reloading of a fuel channel.[2] A special commission will investigate
the accident.[1]
3/19/99: OLD
EQUIPMENT AND NUCLEAR WASTE STOCKPILES CHALLENGE SAFETY AT SMOLENSK NPP
There were 22 operational disruptions
at the Smolensk NPP in 1998, as opposed to 10 in 1997. According to a 19
March 1999 article in Smena, the increased number of incidents is
due to aging equipment. In addition, large stockpiles of spent nuclear
fuel are increasing safety risks.
4/98: NEW NPP TO BE BUILT IN SMOLENSK OBLAST
A new nuclear power plant (NPP) will be built in Smolensk Oblast. By 1
July 1998, the oblast authorities and the Smolensk NPP directorate are
to prepare documents on the construction of Smolensk NPP-2.
7/8/97: PROTEST MARCHERS HIT 50-KM MARK
A group of Smolensk NPP workers began a protest march to Moscow on 3 July
1997, and by 8 July 1997, the protesters had covered 50km of the 250km
distance between Desnogorsk and Moscow. The number of marchers has grown
to 50.[1] Plant workers have volunteered to replace exhausted marchers
on their days off.[2] Other workers are holding a hunger strike at the
plant.[2] The protesters demand the payment of R27 billion in back wages.[3]
Once in Moscow, the protesters will picket the headquarters of Unified
Energy System of Russia (YeES Rossii) and the Russian government building.[4]
As of 3 July 1997, consumers owed Smolensk NPP R1.55 trillion. Smolensk
NPP, in turn, owes R1.523 trillion to suppliers, maintenance firms, and
various funds.[2]
6/11/97: SMOLENSK UNIT 1 SHUT DOWN DUE TO COOLANT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
On 11 June 1997, the system for controlling the flow of coolant through
Smolensk's Unit 1 failed, prompting the shutdown of the unit. The cause
of the malfunction was found and repaired.
3/1/97: SMOLENSK REPAIR WORKERS STRIKE
Workers of a division of Kurskturboatomremont, the company that takes care
of repairs at the Smolensk NPP, went on strike on 1 March 1997, demanding
that nine months' worth of back wages be paid. The workers of Smolensk
NPP, who are not participating in the strike, will make repairs themselves
or call in other specialists as necessary. Smolensk Chief Engineer Aleksandr
Spirin stated that the situation poses no threat to safety,[1] which the
strike committee says is incorrect. According to a statement released by
the strike committee, Smolensk NPP management has repeatedly asked the
striking workers to make emergency repairs.[2]
12/5/96: EQUIPMENT DEFECT FOUND, SMOLENSK-1 SHUT DOWN
A defect in Unit 1's control system was observed by plant personnel, who
responded by shutting down the reactor. The reactor will be started up
once the equipment has been examined.
10/23/96: SMOLENSK STRIKE OVER
Atompressa reported that on 23 October 1996, workers agreed to stop their
strike after the Smolensk NPP administration, Minatom, and Rosenergoatom
guaranteed that back wages would be paid according to an agreeed-upon schedule.
The Smolensk workers will operate the plant at a lower rate, proportional
to what they receive for the electricity generated. Should the other side
not uphold its end of the agreement, the strike committee reserves the
right to reduce the output of the plant to the minimum level necessary
to operate the plant and provide necessary services to nearby Desnogorsk.
10/21/96: SMOLENSK NPP WORKERS STRIKE
Rossiyskaya gazeta reported that on 21 October 1996, Smolensk NPP
workers took to the streets of Smolensk with demands that their back wages
be paid.[1] According to Post-Soviet Nuclear and Defense Monitor,
the strike lasted for one hour, during which time all operations, except
those necessary to maintain safety levels, were suspended. Since Russian
law forbids strikes at nuclear power plants, documents relating to the
Smolensk strike are being filed at the prosecutor's office.[2] Workers
had announced plans in June 1996 to hold a protest on 28 June 1996 and
demand full remittance of 40 billion rubles in back wages; the workers
also threatened to boycott repairs being made on off-line reactors. In
addition, the workers announced they would consider appealing to the Russian
Constitutional Court, claiming the law forbidding strikes at NPPs is unconstitutional.[3]
Pravda
reported that plans to strike on 7 October 1996 were suspended after the
strike committee and the plant's administration reached an agreement. However,
the strike was reinstated after the plant administration failed to uphold
the agreement.[4]
9/96: SMOLENSK OWED 800 BILLION RUBLES
According to Atompressa, electricity consumers owe Smolensk NPP 800 billion
rubles for electricity. The plant owes 700 billion rubles to its suppliers
and other organizations, as well as a total of 400 billion rubles in taxes.
7-8/96: SIMULATION EXPOSES WEAKNESSES IN ACCIDENT CLEANUP PLANS
During July-August 1996, the Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention
and Liquidation of Emergency Situations participated in a simulation at
the Smolensk NPP to determine what measures would be taken to localize
and clean up the aftermath of a serious accident. The simulation showed
that the plant lacks the robotics technology necessary to remove the remains
of fuel assemblies from the roofs and floors of plant buildings, should
an explosion occur. The Commission recommended that simulations be conducted
at all Russian NPPs.
6/28/96: SMOLENSK WORKERS HOLD MEETING
Workers from the Smolensk NPP held a meeting in the city of Desnogorsk
at which they approved an open letter to the president and government of
the Russian Federation, urging them to resolve the financial problems the
power plant is facing.
6/96: ACCIDENT DRILL AT SMOLENSK NPP
The group Operative Assistance for Atomic Power Plants (OPAS) held a mock
accident at the Smolensk NPP to determine plant personnel's level of preparation
and effectiveness in an emergency. OPAS found that during the simulation,
all personnel responded quickly and decisively in identifying the seriousness
of the incident, notifying the authorities and local population centers,
and protecting plant personnel from the effects of radiation.
11/17-23/95: THREE UNITS REPAIRED
According to Yevgeniy Safrygin, manager of the Smolensk nuclear power plant,
repair of the three power units has been completed.
11/95: SMOLENSK SPENT FUEL STORAGE FACILITY NEARLY FULL
Gosatomnadzor reported that the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel
at the Smolensk NPP is nearly full. There are no plans for any fuel from
RBMK or EPG reactors to be transferred or reprocessed in the near future.
6/9/95: SMOLENSK FACILITY 90% FULL
The storage facility at the Smolensk nuclear power plant is 90 percent
full, and is expected to reach capacity by June 1996. A new reservoir scheduled
to be completed by June 1995 is still under construction because of a lack
of funds.
3/2/95: SCOTTISH NUCLEAR LTD. TO GIVE SMOLENSK EQUIPMENT
It was reported that, as a part of the European Union's TACIS nuclear assistance
program, Scottish Nuclear Ltd. will provide the Smolensk facility with
nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment and an information management system
called "Gomis."
1/31/95: FUEL SHORTAGE AT SMOLENSK PLANT
Smolensk is experiencing a great shortage of nuclear fuel; there are only
57 fuel assemblies left. The plant is operating at half of its capacity.
1/30/95: SMOLENSK PLANT IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
During an interview with ITAR-TASS, Rosenergoatom Vice President Yevgeniy
Ignatenko said that the Smolensk facility's financial situation is critical.
The power plant is owed 367 billion rubles, is currently burning its "emergency
fuel reserves," and has no money to pay plant employees or to buy new fuel.
1/95: SIMULATORS AT SMOLENSK UNITS 1 AND 3
It was reported that there are simulators in operation at Units 1 to 3,
with an additional one under construction at Unit 3.
12/94: STORAGE PONDS OVERFILLED
By the end of 1994, it had become impossible to perform "emergency core
unloading" at two of the reactors due to over-filled cooling and storage
ponds. Safety regulations require that sufficient space be left in cooling
ponds to allow for the unloading of the reactor core in the event of an
emergency.
9/19/94: NO CONTROL RODS AT SMOLENSK UNIT 1
It was reported that Unit 1 has no control rod mechanisms, and Unit 3 is
under repair.
6/16/94: SMOLENSK NPP TO USE CASCADE PROCESS
Spent fuel from this reactor will be placed into wells using the Cascade
process. This will be done under a contract signed by the SGN/Eurisys Network
and Rosenergoatom. Smolensk can store 5,000 tons of spent fuel using this
process.
5/16/93: NEW STORAGE FACILITY PLANNED FOR SMOLENSK
Another RBMK spent fuel storage facility is planned for this nuclear power
plant site.
Last updated 30 October 2000
For more recent developments,
see the Nuclear
Power Developments file.
Comments or questions? Contact Cristina Chuen at MIIS CNS: cristina.chuen@miis.edu
This material is produced independently for NTI
by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has
not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers,
employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.
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