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Ukraine: Rivne NPP Developments

1/15/2001: ENERHOATOM AND KUCHMA EMPHASIZE NECESSITY OF COMPLETING NEW  POWER UNITS AT KHMELNYTSKYY AND RIVNE NPPS 
On 15 January 2001, Enerhoatom announced that completion of the power units under construction at the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs is necessary due to the limited supply of fossil fuel for regional electrical power plants and the high cost of importing fuel.  For more information, see the 1/15/2001 entry in the Ukraine: Khmelnytskyy Developments file. {Entered 5/30/01 RG}
 
8/20/2000:  UKRAINE PLANS TO FINISH BUILDING ADDITIONAL NPP POWER UNITS WITHOUT WESTERN AID
Ukraine announced that it can independently finish building Unit 4 of the Rivne NPP and Unit 2 of the Khmelnytskyy NPP due to increases in revenue.  For more information, see the 8/20/2000 entry in the Khmelnytskyy developments section. 
{entered 9/14/2000 RG}
 
6/29/2000: UKRAINE, EBRD CONFIDENT OF REACHING COMPROMISE ON RIVNE-4, KHMELNYTSKYY-2 FINANCING
Following a round of discussions with Prime Minister of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko in Salzburg, Acting EBRD President Charles Frank expressed satisfaction with the amendments made to the Ukrainian law On Electroenergy.  The changes address some of the EBRD’s requirements in the area of Ukrainian energy market reform, upon which continued EBRD funding for the completion of Rivne-4 and Khmelnytskyy-2 units is contingent. Frank was hopeful that a mutually acceptable compromise would be reached.[1] Further discussions are planned to begin on 5 July 2000 in Berlin, at a conference of Chornobyl Fund countries-contributors.[1] In a 23 July 2000 meeting with journalists following an earlier round of discussions with an EBRD delegation in Kiev, Prime Minister Yushchenko also expressed confidence that ongoing negotiations with the EBRD concerning credits for completion of Rivne-4 and Khmelnytskyy-2 units would be successful.[2] The government of Ukraine is also exploring other potential sources of funding for Rivne-4 and Khmnelnytskyy-2. During consultations in Paris with Ukrainian Foreign Ministry officials, representatives of the French Foreign Ministry expressed willingness to continue contributing funds toward the completion of the two units and providing support for Ukrainian energy market reforms.[3]  However, due to the German government’s decision to abandon nuclear energy projects, on 10 March 2000 the German export and credit agency Hermes decided to cancel its plans to finance the projects.[4]
Sources:
[1]"I.o. prezidenta EBRR rasschityvayet na kompromiss v voprose finansirovaniya zaversheniya stroitelstva kompensiruyushchikh moshchnostey na ukrainskikh AES," Interfax, No.4, 29 June 2000.
[2] "Premyer Ukrainy ubezhden v uspekhe peregovorov s EBRR o vydelenii kreditov na dostroyku Khmelnitskoy i Rovenskoy AES," Interfax, No.3, 23 June 2000.
[3] "Frantsiya gotova prodolzhit finansirovaniye dostroyki na Ukraine atomnykh energoblokov," Interfax, 30 June 2000.
[4] "Germaniya ne namerena kreditovat dostroyku blokov na Khmelnitskoy i Rovenskoy AES--soobschayut ekologi," Interfax, No.1, 21 March 2000. {Entered 7/5/2000 MJ}
 
5/16/2000: UKRAINE MAY  HOLD NEW TENDER FOR RIVNE AND KHMELNYTSKYY NPP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Yulia Tymoshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, told Interfax on 16 May 2000 that the government may hold a new tender for the Rivne and Khmelnytskyy NPP construction projects if the present contractor [not named in report] does not lower its price.  The original tender was for the amount of  $1.4 billion, however the contractor then presented a figure of $2 billion to complete the work. Tymoshenko said that if the contractor does not lower its price to the original figure, Ukraine can legally hold a new tender for the contract.
["Ukraine may call new tender to complete nuclear reactors," Interfax, 16 May 2000, Vol. V, Issue 89; in FBIS Document CEP20000516000182.] {Entered 5/17/2000 GD}
 
1/31/2000: SABOTAGE ATTEMPT AT RIVNE NPP
On 31 January, an employee attempted to shut down operations at Rivne's second reactor.[1,2,3]  Reports differ on the exact nature of the incident.  According to Kievskiye vedomosti, the individual cut electricity to the reactor.[1] An article in Tribuna states that the individual deliberately damaged several devices in Unit 2.[2] Bellona reported that the man switched off a safety valve in the cooling system.[3]  The Kievskiye vedomosti and Bellona reports note that the man admitted to police his intention was to disrupt plant operations.[1,2] The man was sent for a psychological evaluation after being apprehended.[1,2,3]
Sources:
[1] Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 30 January 2000; in "Ukraine nuclear plant's employee attempts to stop the plant, arrested," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
[2] Tribuna, 2 February 2000; in "Emergency at a Nuclear Power Station," The Russian Media Monitoring Agency, http://www.wps.ru/e_index.html.
[3] "New Chernobyl barely avoided in Ukraine," Bellona Web Site,  http://www.bellona.no. {Entered 2/17/2000 GD}
 
9/29/99: EBRD DEFERS DECISION ON FINANCING RIVNE-4 AND KHMELNYTSKYY-2
As Ukraine moves to complete Rivne's Unit 4 and Khmelnytskyy's Unit 2, which are scheduled to be put into operation after the closure of the Chornobyl NPP, prospects of receiving Western loans for the project are uncertain, Interfax reported on 29 September 1999.[1,2] In 1995, the G-7 countries promised to allocate $800-900 million to complete the two reactors.[1,3] The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) tentatively agreed in early 1999 to advance a $190 million loan for the reactors' completion.[4] However, the EBRD is postponing its final decision, insisting that prior to receiving the loan, Ukraine must meet international nuclear safety requirements, reduce barter payments for electricity,[5] privatize regional energy firms, [5,6] indicate a date for shutting down the Chornobyl NPP, and separate assets belonging to the Chornobyl NPP from Enerhoatom.[7] The EBRD's decision is further contingent upon the positions of the individual European governments that would grant the loan. While Germany, for example, has refused to allocate any funds until it carefully reviews the results of the German-Ukrainian negotiations,[8,9] France and Finland have been supportive of  assistance.[10,11] The total financial package for completion of the reactors is estimated at $1.75 billion, of which the EBRD would cover 10 percent, the Financial Times reported on 29 September 1999.[6]
Sources:
[1] "EBRD Chernobyl Proposals Rejected," Nuclear Engineering International, June 1999, p.8.
[2] "Kuchma: G7 Will Stand By Pledge To Finance Nuclear Facilities," Interfax, 29 April 1999.
[3] Igor Kudrik, "EBRD Indecisive, Russia Cautious," Bellona web site, www.bellona.no/e/russia/990215.htm, 15 February 1999.
[4] Tony Wesolowsky, "Ukraine: EBRD Plans To Fund Controversial Nuclear Reactors," Radio Free Europe,www.rferl.org/newsline/1999/02/170299.html, 29 January 1999.
[5] "EBRD Stalls on N Industry Loans," Ukrainian Weekly, 25 April 1999, p. 2.
[6] Financial Times, 29 September 1999, p. 3; in "Condition on Ukraine Loan," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
[7] UNIAN, 30 April 1999; in "Talks With European Bank on Future of Chernobyl Plant Continue," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
[8] Interfax, 17 June 1999; in "Ukrainian Officials Discuss Debt Issues With IMF Head," FBIS Document FTS19990618000043.
[9] Intelnews,16 July 1999; in "Germany Withholding Financing of Ukrainian," FBIS Document FTS19990716000577.
[10] "Frantsiya podderzhit v YeBRR proyekt dostroyki reaktorov na 2-kh ukrainskykh AES, Interfax, 23 April 1999.
[11] "EU Must Help Ukraine in Building Nuclear Reactors - Finnish PM," Interfax,, 23 July 1999. {Entered 10/11/99 SK}
 
9/9/99: RUSSIA WILL ASSIST UKRAINE IN CONSTRUCTION OF RIVNE-4 AND KHMELNYTSKYY-6
Russia has earmarked $60-70 million in its 2000 budget to aid in the completion of Rivne's Unit 4 and Khmelnytskyy Unit 2.[1] This aid will come in the form of equipment and nuclear fuel for the two nuclear reactors at Rivne and Khmelnytskyy.[1,2] (Please see also the 9/19/98 item in this file.)
Sources:
[1] Intelnews, 9 September 1999; in "Russia to Fund Ukrainian Nuclear Reactor Construction," FBIS Document FTS19990910000130.
[2] "Russia Ready to Fill Ukraine's Nuclear Energy Gap," Jamestown Monitor, 23 July 1999. {Entered 10/7/99 SK}
 
7/9/99: GERMANY PREFERS NON-NUCLEAR ENERGY OPTIONS TO COMPLETION OF RIVNE-4 AND KHMELNYTSKYY-2
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met on 9 July 1999 to discuss completion of Khmelnytskyy's Unit 2 and and Rivne's Unit 4.[1] Germany has been trying to persuade the Ukrainian government to consider non-nuclear energy alternatives to compensate for energy losses after the Chornobyl NPP is decommissioned.[2] The German authorities would prefer to provide Ukraine with modern fossil-fuel or gas-fired facilities, rather then funding construction of Rivne's Unit 4 and Khmelnytskyy's Unit 2, which are 80 percent complete.[1,2] The Ukrainian government, nevertheless, insists on finishing the nuclear reactors, pointing out that the non-nuclear option would cost $842 million more than the $1.1 billion needed to complete the construction of the two nuclear reactors.[1] If the Western countries do not provide Ukraine with financial help, Ukraine will finish the construction of the two reactors with Russian help or by itself.[1,3] In this case, the reactors would be completed without any of the safety upgrades envisioned by the EBRD. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the Schroeder cabinet will eventually approve German aid for the reactors, since former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl committed his country to assist Ukraine in construction the reactors.[1]
Sources:
[1] Mark Hibbs, "Ukraine Rejects German Offer to Replace K2/R4 With Gas, Coal," Nucleonics Week, 15 July 1999, pp.6-7.
[2] Ukrayinske Radio Second Program, 8 April 1999; in "Germany Will Not Fund New Nuclear Plants in Ukraine," FBIS Document FTS19990408001857.
[3]"EBRD Chernobyl Proposals Rejected," Nuclear Engineering International, June 1999, p.8. {Entered 10/14/99 SK}
 
5/11/99: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OPPOSE CONSTRUCTION OF RIVNE-4 AND KHMELNYTSKYY-2
Environmental and anti-nuclear groups oppose construction of Rivne's Unit 4 and Khmelnytskyy's Unit 2, UNIAN reported on 11 May 1999. The Ukrainian environmental organization Zelenyy Svit (Green World) says that the project violates the law on finishing construction of the reactors and safety principles. Zelenyy Svit further pointed out that the reactors did not pass the state environmental assessment examination.[1] European environmental groups also pronounced the project economically and environmentally unsound. They urged the EBRD not to finance construction and to consider alternative energy sources. According to Charles Frank, EBRD's first vice president, the Rivne and Khmelnytskyy reactors have more advanced designs than the Chornobyl reactor and have been upgraded to Western safety standards.
Sources:
[1] UNIAN, 11 May 1999; in "Environmentalists Oppose Two New Reactors," FBIS Document FTS19990514000752.
[2] Gill Tudor, "EBRD Defends Kiev's Controversial Plans for Nuclear Power Projects," New Europe, 26 April-2 May 1999, p. 22. {Entered 10/14/99 SK}
 
9/19/98: YELTSIN PLEDGES $180 MILLION FOR COMPLETION OF RIVNE-4 AND KHMELNYTSKYY-2
In an informal meeting between Ukrainian and Russian Presidents Leonid Kuchma and Boris Yeltsin in Moscow Oblast on 19 September 1998, Yeltsin promised to allocate $180 million in the 1999 budget for completion of Rivne's Unit 4 and Khmelnytskyy's Unit 2.[1,2] According to President Kuchma, the $180 million will come in the form of technology and fresh nuclear fuel. Kuchma further stated that Ukraine and Russia will cooperate in completing the construction of the two reactors regardless of the final decision of the EBRD on financing the project. According to Yuriy Bespalko, press secretary of Minatom, no concrete figures were named, nor more contracts signed, at the Yeltsin-Kuchma meeting.[3]
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 19 September 1998; in "Yeltsin, Kuchma Agree to Set up Joint 'Anticrisis Group'," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
[2] Viktor Lugovik and Viktor Yadukha, "Rossiya zaplatit za ukrainskiye reaktory," Segodnya, online edition, www.ipres.ru, 13 October 1998.
[3] "Kuchma rasskazyvayet skazki," Anti-atom Press, No. 182, 2 October 1998. {Entered 10/29/99 SK}
 
9/21/97: VIDEO MONITOR DEFECT DELAYS FUEL RELOAD
A problem in the video monitoring system, which was set up to oversee the extraction of fuel assemblies from within the reactor, caused a temporary delay in the reloading of fuel into Rivne-3. The malfunction occurred during a planned maintenance overhaul of the third unit.[1] Once workers completed the appropriate repairs, fueling recommenced.[2]
Sources:
[1] UNIAN, 22 September 1997; in "Ukraine: Defects Bring Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants to Halt," FBIS-SOV-97-265.
[2] UNIAN, 23 September 1997; in "Ukraine: Faults Reported in Ukraine Nuclear Plants," FBIS-SOV-97-266. {Entered 10/17/97 AjP}
 
9/19/97: MALFUNCTION AT RIVNE-2 LEADS TO POWER REDUCTION
The Nuclear Regulation Administration Information Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety reported that a generator at Unit 2 of the Rivne NPP underwent emergency disconnection from the national electricity grid on 19 September 1997.  Damage to a steam pipeline within the turbine following a leak caused the shutdown. Unit 2 output declined to 50 percent of design capacity with only one working generator.[1] Workers restored the unit to full power that same day.[2] No fluctuations in radioactivity at the plant were detected.[1]
Sources:
[1] UNIAN, 19 September 1997; in "Ukraine: Malfunction at Rovno Leads to Power Reduction," FBIS-SOV-97-262.
[2] UNIAN, 20 September 1997; in "Ukraine: Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Reactor Halted due to Malfunction," FBIS-SOV-97-263. {Entered 10/17/97 AjP}
 
8/2/97: LEVEL ONE EMERGENCY SHUTS DOWN ALL RIVNE REACTORS
All three reactors at the Rivne NPP closed following the detection of a cooling system failure during routine procedures, according to spokesman Olexi Ananenko. Unable to locate the source of the problem, specialists suspended power generation at the entire plant on 2 August 1997. While no radiation leaked, the incident received a level one rating on the seven-point International Nuclear Event Scale.
[AFP, 8 August 1997; in "Ukraine: Nuclear Plant Shut Down After 'Level One Emergency,'" FBIS-SOV-97-220.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
7/2/97: UNIT 2 TO UNDERGO SCHEDULED REPAIRS
A 41-day maintenance period began at Unit 2 of the Rivne NPP on 2 July 1997. Power production was halted for partial refueling and other work.
[ITAR-TASS, 2 July 1997; in "Ukraine: Reactor at Rovno Power Plant Stopped for Planned Repairs," FBIS-SOV-97-183.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
6/4/97: COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSES UNIT 1 SHUTDOWN
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety Nuclear Regulation Administration, Unit 1 at the Rivne NPP underwent an unscheduled shutdown on 4 June 1997 at 7:50 p.m. due to a damaged cooling system in the reactor's main transformer, which caused a leak to occur. All power from Rivne-1 was disrupted by this incident. Meanwhile, the second turbogenerator remained inoperable because of extensive upgrades and repairs.
[UNIAN, 5 June 1997; in "Ukraine: Malfunction at Rovno Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down Reactor," FBIS-SOV-97-156.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
5/12/97: UNIT 1 POWER TO RECOMMENCE
After regular maintenance procedures, Rivne-1 came back on to the national electricity grid. The work consisted of a partial refueling and repairs on three nuclear safety systems. Only one turbogenerator is in operation, and work continues on efficiency upgrades for the second.
[Ukrayinske Radio First Program Network, 12 May 1997; in "Ukraine: First Generating Set at Rovno AES Restarted," FBIS-SOV-97-132.] {Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
4/9/97: RIVNE-1 STOPPED FOR REPAIRS
Power production at Unit 1 of the Rivne NPP was halted on 9 April 1997, marking the first day of a 44-day scheduled overhaul. According to Derzhkomatom, the unit will undergo refueling, replacement of a low-pressure cylinder in the second turbogenerator, and examination of the radiation safety system, as well as other adjustments to further improve productivity of the reactor.
[ITAR-TASS, 9 April 1997; in "Ukraine: Rivne Nuclear Reactor Stopped for Repairs," FBIS-SOV-97-099.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
3/14/97: SCHEDULED STOP FOR RIVNE-3
Early in the morning on 14 March 1997, specialists stopped Rivne-3 in order to study the reactor control system, according to Derzhkomatom's Information and Public Relations Department.  No flaws were detected, and power will resume 18 March 1997.
[Interfax, 14 March 1997; in "Nuclear Power Unit Halted for 'Scheduled Research,'" FBIS-SOV-97-073.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
2/18/97: FRANCE AND UKRAINE TRY TO ATTRACT FUNDING FOR NEW REACTORS
At a press conference on 18 February 1997, Electricite de France (EdF) Director Jean-Pierre Baret stated that twenty French nuclear power engineering experts and Ukraine's Energoatom are working to form a group to develop proposals designed to attract Western investment for the completion of Khmelnytskyy-2 and Rivne-4. EdF serves as a consultant to Derzhkomatom. At the press conference, Derzhkomatom Deputy Chairman Anatoliy Chernov also announced that Ukraine will seek tenders by 2000 for selecting a new type of reactor for NPPs in Ukraine. Chernov noted that France has "a good chance of winning this tender."
[Intelnews, 21 February 1997; in "Ukraine: State Firm, French Experts To Cooperate on Nuclear Units," FBIS-SOV-97-035, 21 February 1997.]{Entered 8/1/97 MK}
 
2/2/97: UNIT 1 TURBOGENERATOR SHUT DOWN DUE TO MALFUNCTION
The failure of the turbine protection system of one of two Rivne-1 turbogenerators caused a 50 percent reduction in output from the unit on 2 February 1997 at 2300 GMT. Ukraine's National Power Generating Control Center agreed in advance to the shut down. No changes in levels of radioactivity resulted.
[UNIAN, 22 February 1997; in "Ukraine: 'Malfunction' Shuts Down Rovno Nuclear Plant Turbogenerator," FBIS-SOV-97-036.]{Entered 10/20/97 AjP}
 
11/1/96: PRIME MINISTER REPRIMANDS DIRECTORS
During a meeting stressing nuclear power plant directors' accountability for the performance of nuclear plants under their direction, Prime Minister Pavel Lazarenko reprimanded the directors of the Rivne NPP technical service for recent malfunctions.
[Interfax, 11/1/96; in "Premier Says Government To End 'Squandering' Of Electricity," FBIS-SOV-96-213, 11/1/96.] {Entered, 1/16/97, MEW}
 
5/16/96: CHIEF ENGINEER STATES THAT UNIT 3 SHUTDOWN WAS PLANNED
According to Derzhkomatom, Unit 3 was shut down due to a leak of radioactive coolant from the first circuit into the second. A chief engineer at the plant, Nikolai Frigman, stated that a crack had been found in the generator in Unit 3. However, he noted that the shutdown had been planned and would continue for 10 days. Derzhkomatom stated that the temporary system shutdown did not lead to an increase in background radiation. Unit 1 was being repaired, and Unit 2 cut its output by 100 MW.
Sources:
[1] United Press International, 5/20/96; in "Two Ukrainian Nuclear Reactors Stopped," EXECUTIVE NEWS SERVICE, 5/20/96.
[2] Interfax, 5/16/96; in "Ukraine: No Contamination At Rivne Nuclear Plant, Nuclear Agency Says," BBC Monitoring Service, 5/24/96.
 
4/20/96: EBRD WILL LEAD IN RAISING AID
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reportedly has been influenced by the G-7 to take the lead in raising at least $975 million (650 million pounds) to complete the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs.
["West Faces Soaring Cost Of Chornobyl," Daily Telegraph, by Mary Brasier, 4/20/96, p. 17.]
 
4/14/96: EBRD WILL HELP COMPLETE KHMELNYTSKYY AND RIVNE REACTORS
The EBRD is considering granting $1 billion to Ukraine to enable the completion of the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne reactors. Petro Hermanchuk, the Ukrainian Finance Minster, appealed to the EBRD board to lend even more money to Ukraine for this expansion of the nuclear sector.
[Peter Rutland, "Ukraine Pleas For More Cash For Chornobyl," Omri Daily Digest, 4/15/96.]
 
4/5/96: UNSPECIFIED UNIT WAS SHUT DOWN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
An unspecified unit was shut down for routine maintenance. The other two units continued to operate at normal capacity.
[ITAR-TASS, 4/5/96; in "Ukraine: Rivne Nuclear Generating Set Shut Down For Routine Maintenance," BBC Monitoring Service, 4/12/96.]
 
3/20/96: UNIT 1 IS SHUT DOWN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Unit 1 was shut down for routine maintenance and reactor refueling. The work was expected to be completed by 4/30/96.
[UNIAN, 3/20/96; in "Ukraine: Rivne Power Plant Unit Halted For Maintenance," BBC Monitoring Service, 3/29/96.]
 
3/16/96: TURBOGENERATOR AT UNIT 2 IS SHUTDOWN FOR REPAIRS -0 ON INES
One of two turbogenerators at Unit 2 was shutdown for repairs due to a fault in a bearing. The unit's capacity was reduced by 50%. Repairs were expected to take 36 hours. The incident was rated a 0 on the INES.
[UNIAN, 3/16/96; in "Ukraine: Capacity Halved At No 2 Unit Of Rivne Nuclear Power Plant," BBC Monitoring Service, 3/22/96.]
 
2/15/96: NEW TIMELINE FOR KHMELNYTSKYY AND RIVNE
The cost of completing Khmelnytskyy Unit 2 and Rivne Unit 4 has been estimated to be around $1 billion by Electricite de France. Rivne Unit 4 was 70% completed when construction was halted and is now 80% complete. With significant safety upgrades through collaboration with Western firms, a new timeline would have it on line by 1999.
Sources:
[1] Ann MacLachlan, "EBRD Studying Request To Fund Completion Of Ukrainian Reactors," Nucleonics Week, 2/15/96, pp. 1-2.
[2] SOURCE BOOK: SOVIET DESIGNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN RUSSIA, UKRAINE, LITHUANIA, ARMENIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND BULGARIA, 1996, p. 132.
 
2/12/96: EBRD WILL GIVE UKRAINE FINANCIAL ESTIMATES BEFORE NUCLEAR SAFETY SUMMIT
The EBRD reportedly was considering participation in the final stages of construction of Khmelnytskyy Unit 2 and Rivne Unit 4. It planned to give Ukraine financial estimates of these projects before the nuclear safety summit in Moscow in 4/96.
["EBRD Into New Reactors," Eastern Economist, 1/12/96, p. 4.]
 
1/18/95: RIVNE CANNOT COMPLETE REPAIR WORK
Consumer debt totaling $54 million is preventing the completion of repair work at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant.
[Chrystyna Lapychak, "Ukraine's Nuclear Authority Strapped For Cash," Omri Daily Digest, 1/18/96.]
 
12/95: UNIT 4 WILL BE BROUGHT ON LINE
Unit 4, which is 80% complete, can potentially be brought on line in two and a half years. ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE has presented plans for the upgrading and completion of this unit. EdF will work as a consultant as the unit is completed.
["Data Features: World Nuclear Generating Capacity 1993/94," 12/95, p. 45.]
 
10/95: UNIT 3 IS DOWN FOR REFUELING
Unit 3 was down for refueling and/or maintenance for at least part of 10/95.
["Ukraine," Nucleonics Week, 11/9/95, p. 15.]
 
9/21/95: ITAR-TASS REPORT ON UNITS 1 AND 2
One of Unit 2's turbogenerators was shut down due to a water leak. Unit 1 subsequently was shut down by the emergency protection system. ITAR-TASS later reported that the two were brought back on line and there was no change to background radiation.
["Ukraine: Output At Ukraine's Rivne Power Station Hit By Shutdown," BBC Monitoring Service, 9/29/95.]
 
8/13/95: UNIT 2 IS OF HIGHEST CAPACITY UTILIZATION OF ALL UKRAINIAN NPPs
According to Mikhailo Umanets, Unit 2 had no failures during the first half of 1995 and received the highest capacity utilization of all Ukrainian NPPs--90.1% as compared to the all-Ukraine average of 69.3%.
[Serhiy Sokolovskiy, "Nuclear Chief On Chornobyl Reactors," Intelnews.]
 
8/95: RIVNE NPP CHOOSES ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL PARTNERS
Rivne NPP is independent in all of its economic and technical decision-making, according to Mykola Friedman, the head-engineer at Rivne NPP. The French firm "Zhekholit" is supplying fire-proof material to protect and cover cables and cable-canals. The French firm "Intercontrol" is supplying diagnostic equipment to control the metal in the reactor and the steam-generator. The Czech company Skoda is helping to develop storage units for spent fuel. (See Ukraine: Spent Fuel and Nuclear Waste Storage/Disposal.) Diagnostic equipment will also be supplied by Siemens. The digital Teleperm XS reactor protection system may be installed on Unit 4 by Siemens. However, for scientific assistance Rivne officials are still working primarily with Russia.
Sources:
[1] Anatoly Panov, "Problemy Bezpeky," Zeleny Svit, 8/95, p. 4.
[2] "Designing in Mid-life: Soviet Reactors Present Big, But Uncertain, Market...," Nucleonics Week, 9/28/95; in OUTLOOK ON I&C, 95, p. 14.
 
6/95: UNITS 1 AND 2 HAVE THE HIGHEST ANNUAL LOAD FACTOR
Units 1 and 2 have the highest annual load factor in Ukraine in 1995 to this point, 78.8% and 75.8% respectively. The annual average in Ukraine stands at 62.2%.
["Load Factors To End June 1995," Nuclear Engineering International, PP. 50-51.]
 
5-6/95: SIMULATORS FOR TRAINING VVER-440 OPERATORS IN RIVNE
A West-European consortium is to deliver simulators to train VVER-440 operators in Rivne. The consortium will carry out this EU backed project in 1995-96.
["West simulators for East VVERs," Nuclear Europe Worldscan, 5-6/95, p. 27.]
 
5/95: FICHTNER IS INDEPENDENT PROCUREMENT AGENT FOR RIVNE
Fichtner has been named the independent procurement agent for the Rivne plant. 10 million ECU worth of items will be procured through this German company.
["EC Procures Procurer," Nuclear Engineering International, 5/95, p.51.]
 
2/19/95: GENERATOR WAS DAMAGED AT RIVNE- 3;INES 0
The generator of Unit 3 was automatically partially shut down after a signal showed that the generator was damaged. The generator was decreased to 40 percent power immediately after the system received the emergency signal; the unit had been operating previously at only 80 percent due to a shortcoming in the generator's temperature control system. This incident was rated a zero on the INES. This unit will be undergoing repairs until 3/10/95.
[UNIAN, 2/20/95; in "Rivne Nuclear Power Station Reactor Shut Down," FBIS-SOV-95-034, 2/20/95.]
 
2/10/95: RUSSIAN NUCLEAR FUEL IS DELIVERED TO RIVNE
A shipment of Russian nuclear fuel was delivered to Rivne and will be used in Unit 1, which is scheduled to be shut down for repairs and refueling on 2/18/95.
[UNIAN, 2/10/95; in "Moscow Delivers Fuel to Rivne Nuclear Power Plant," FBIS-SOV-95-029, 2/10/95.]
 
9/14/94: GERMANY WILL PROVIDE MONITORING AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Following an inspection of the plant as stipulated by an aid agreement between Ukraine and Germany, it was reported that some monitoring and safety equipment for the station would be supplied by German firms.
[ITAR-TASS, 9/14/94; in "Germany To Supply Equipment to Nuclear Plant," FBIS-SOV-94-179, 9/15/94.
 
9/7/94: HYDROGEN LEAK FROM THE GENERATOR CASING DID NOT LEAD TO INCREASED RADIATION LEVELS; INES 0
Due to a hydrogen leak from the generator casing, operation of one of the plant's turbines was halted. Volodymyr Korovkin, director of the plant, reported that there was no increase in the radiation level and the State Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy rated the incident a zero on the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES). The turbine was later restarted.
[UNIAN, 9/8/94; in "Rivne, Zaporizhzhya AES Accidents Pose No Threat," FBIS-SOV-94-175, p. 50.]
 
6/28/94: OVERHEATED BALL-BEARING AT UNIT 2
An overheated ball-bearing caused a stoppage at Unit 2, which reduced capacity by 50 percent. No change in radiation level was detected and the cause of the problem was under investigation.
[UNIAN, 6/29/94; in "Accidents Cited At Nuclear, Electric Plants," FBIS-SOV-94-127, 7/1/94, p. 44.]
 
1/94: FIRST UKRAINIAN-GERMAN JOINT VENTURE
The first Ukrainian-German joint venture, UNA, in the field of nuclear power engineering has been established. Its founders include the Rivne nuclear power plant, the Kiev institute Enerhoproekt, and the German joint stock company KAB.
[Kiyevskiye Vedomosti, 1/5/94; in "Germans Experts To Rebuild Rivne Nuclear Power Plant," FBIS-SOV-94-005, 1/7/94.]
 
11/22-12/3/93: THREE SAFETY PROBLEMS AT RIVNE
An IAEA Mission found the three major safety problems at the Rivne NPP to be frequent failure of diesel generators, the potential for the loss of reactivity and cooling of fuel, and the potential for operation outside the authorized regime because of noncompliance with Ukraine's own procedures.
[Source Book: Soviet-Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria, 1996, p. 132.]
 

Last updated 4 June 2002
This file is no longer being updated.  For information on developments in the nuclear power industry, please see the Ukraine: General Nuclear Power Developments section.

Comments or questions? Contact Michael Jasinski at MIIS CNS: Michael.Jasinski@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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