4/2/2003: GERMAN SPECIALISTS UPGRADE FIRE SAFETY OF SOUTH UKRAINE NPP Podrobnosti reported on 2 April 2003 that, according to
Enerhoatom, specialists from the German firm
Brandschutz were working at the South Ukraine NPP
to improve its fire safety. German specialists will also train NPP personnel
to use the new equipment. South Ukraine NPP has been using Brandschutz equipment
since 1999. [“Nemetskiye spetsialisty povyshayut protivopozharnuyu
bezopasnost Yuzhno-Ukrainskoi AES,” Podrobnosti, 2 April 2003; in Integrum
Techno, http://www.integrum.com/.] {Entered 5/14/2003 MJ}
2/21/2003 SOUTH UKRAINE NPP RECEIVES TACIS-FUNDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
UNIAN reported on 21 February 2003 that the South
Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) received instruments for automatic
monitoring of water quality. The equipment is scheduled to be installed by the end of the
first quarter of 2003 on Unit 3, and will be used to measure water quality in
the turbine section and the steam generators. The instruments were produced by
the French firm ELTA, and were provided via European Union’s
TACIS program. [“V ramkakh programmy TACIS na Yuzhno-ukrainskuyu AES
postupili priborydlya avtomaticheskogo kontrolya kachestvavody v
tekhnologicheskikh sistemakh,” UNIAN, No 8 (250), 17-23 February 2003.] {Entered
5/13/2003 MJ}
2/14/2003: US SPECIALISTS ASSIST ZAPORIZHZHYA NPP
From 10 to 14 February 2003, safety experts from the US firm
Westinghouse studied a
project to develop and implement comprehensive emergency procedures at the
Zaporizhzhya NPP, whose Unit 5 has been chosen
as a pilot VVER-type reactor to introduce such procedures. The procedures are to
be fully implemented by the end of 2004, and will then be applied at other units
of the NPP. Westinghouse experts also plan to visit other Ukrainian NPPs. Prior
to their visit to Zaporizhzhya NPP, Westinghouse specialists, together with
representatives of the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory and the Argonne
National Laboratory, held talks with specialists from Enerhoatom and
Ukraine’s NPPs on the emergency procedures project. [“Amerikantsy izuchili proyect po razrabotke i vnedreniyu
sistemno-orienirovannykh instruktsiy na Zaporozhskoy AES,” LIGA online, 14
February 2003; in Integrum Techn, http://www.integrum.com/ .] {Entered 5/14/2003
MJ}
2/10/2003: JAPANESE SPECIALISTS TRAIN UKRAINIAN REACTOR PERSONNEL
UNIAN reported on 10 February 2003 that a delegation of specialists from the
Japan Electric Power
Information Center (JEPIC) visited the South
Ukraine nuclear power plant (NPP). The visit was part of a program of
international cooperation on NPP safety. The Japanese experts remarked that
South Ukraine NPP personnel left a positive impression, and that they intend to
continue cooperation in this area. Three South Ukraine NPP specialists visited
Japan in 2002 where they received instruction in NPP safety procedures. [“Yaponskiye eksperty obuchayut spetsialistov ukrainskikh AES,”
UNIAN, No. 7 (249), 10-16 February 2003.] {Entered 5/14/2003 MJ}
12/5/2002: GERMAN DELEGATION CITES INADEQUATE REACTOR SAFETY EFFORTS
Interfax reported on 5 December 2002 that a German delegation of the
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature
Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, headed by Director General of the
Department of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Wolfgang Renneberg, spent
three days familiarizing itself with the work on the closing of the
Chornobyl NPP. According to the German experts,
Ukraine is not spending enough on nuclear safety. Wolfgang Renneberg also said
that if Ukraine were to perform a risk-benefit analysis of its nuclear energy
program, the risks would most likely outweigh the benefits. [“Nemetskiye eksperty polagayut, chto Ukraine sleduyet tratit
bolshe sredstv na podderzhaniye yadernoy bezopasnosti,” Interfax, 5 December
2002.] {Entered 5/13/2003 MJ}
10/4/2002: QUALITY OF NPP OPERATORS QUESTIONED
Rivne vechirne reported on 4 October 2002 that over 10 employees of the
Rivne NPP had false higher education diplomas that they had purchased for
$500-600. The holders of false Odessa National Polyte3chnic University diplomas
were employed in administrative and engineering positions at the NPP. The
revelation has prompted an investigation by the oblast prosecutor's office and
anti-organized crime directorate.[1] An
Enerhoatom commission was
dispatched to investigate. Individuals accused of purchasing university diplomas
remained at their jobs, however. NPP management stated this was justified
because none of the individuals in question worked in positions affecting
reactor safety. According to the head of the department for public
relations at Rivne NPP, Oleksiy Kiskiy, the licensing process for reactor
operators is so strict that it excludes the possibility of unqualified personnel
occupying such positions.[2] However, the Ukrainian nuclear power industry is
experiencing a problem retaining qualified cadres. Only 40% of reactor operators
are willing to remain at their jobs; 280 left Ukraine in the last three years.
Enerhoatom is attempting to stem the outflow of expensively trained specialists
by introducing new social programs. However, funding of these programs
would require the tripling of electricity tariffs.[3] Sources:
[1] Zhanna Pinchuk, "Atomnykiv iz falshyvymy dyplomamy vyyavyly na Rivenskiy AES,"
Rivne vechirne online edition,
http://www.rivnepost.rovno.ua, 4 October 2002.
[2] Volodymyr Krushelnytskyy, "Vlasnyky dyplomiv prodovzhuyut pratsyuvaty,"
Rivne vechirne online edition,
http://www.rivnepost.rovno.ua, 11 October 2002.
[3] ITAR-TASS, 4 October 2002; in "Ukrainian nuclear power industry faces threat
of staff shortages," FBIS Document CEP20021005000022. {Entered 10/18/2002 MJ}
8/15/2002: TULUB ON CONDITION OF UKRAINIAN REACTORS Izvestiya reported on 15 August 2002 that during a visit to the city
of Slavutych, Enerhoatom president Serhiy Tulub assessed the depreciation of
Ukrainian power reactors' thermomechanical equipment at 56%, and electrical and
control systems at 60%. Only major financial investments can improve the
situation, according to the article. ["The likelihood of a New Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine is
60%," Izvestiya, 15 August 2002,; in "Tulub States Possibility of Another
Nuclear Disaster 60 Percent," FBIS Document CEP20020816000355.] {Entered
10/23/2002 MJ}
6/21/2002: EUROPEAN UNION ASSISTS WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM Kyiv Post reported on 21 June 2002 that the European Union will
provide assistance in establishing an emergency response system to help provide
assistance in establishing an emergency response system to help prevent and
manage future nuclear accidents. According to Norbert Jousten, the head of the
European Commission in Ukraine, and Ukrainian Minister of the Environment Serhiy
Kurykin, the system, called RODOS, has already been tested and will become
operational in the near future. Seven other countries already use the
system, and tests have been condu8cted in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. ["EU sponsors emergency response system for Ukrainian nuclear
plants," Kyiv Post online edition,
http://www.thepost.kiev.ua,
21 June 2002.] {Entered 6/21/2002 MJ}
5/10/2002: REACTOR MALFUNCTIONS ON THE INCREASE Interfax reported on 10 May 2002 that a State Nuclear Regulatory Committee
report on the state of nuclear and radiation safety in Ukraine shows a trend
toward the decreasing safety of Ukrainian nuclear reactors. According to
the report, none of Ukraine's 13 active power reactors operated flawlessly in
2001. There were 57 incidents that were rated as "0" on the International
Nuclear Event Scale (INES), and 17 that were rated as "1." In comparison,
in 1996 there were 12 INES 1 events, in 1997 five, in 1998 seven, in 1999 eight,
and in 2000 10 INES 1 events. The largest number of incidents was noted at
Knmelnytskyy Unit 1 (15 events), followed by Rivne Unit 2 (seven events).
["V proshlom godu na AES Ukrainy bez narusheniy ne rabotal ni
odin energoblok," Interfax, 10 May 2002.] {Entered 6/13/2002 MJ}
5/7/2002: US COMPANY HELPS IMPROVE REACTOR SAFETY The Kyiv Post reported on 7 May 2002 that the
Verkhovna rada praised the US firm GSE
Systems for its efforts in assisting Khmelnytskyy NPP operators in detecting
minor reactor malfunctions. The firm is working with Russian and Ukrainian
subcontractors on a project organized by the US Department of Energy to improve
the safety of all Ukrainian NPPs. ["Ukrainian lawmakers praise U.S. nuclear safety project,"
Kyiv Post online edition,
http://www.kpnews.com, 7 May 2002.] {Entered 6/13/2002 MJ}
12/6/99: UKRAINIAN PREPARATIONS FOR Y2K
QUESTIONED
USSecretary of Energy Bill Richardson told ITAR-TASS news service on 6 December that US specialists are somewhat worried
by the level of preparedness at the Ukrainian nuclear power plants for dealing
with the Y2K problem. He also said that two US experts would travel
to Ukraine in December to ensure no serious problems would develop at Ukrainian NPPs.[1] Mohammad El-Baradei, IAEA director general, identified the
Chernobyl NPP as one of three facilites lagging behind in preparing for Y2K.
The other two are the Metsamor
NPP in Armenia and the Ignalina
NPP in Lithuania.[2]
Sources:
[1] Anna Bazhenova, ITAR-TASS, 6 December
1999; in "Russia, US Disagree on Ukrainian Power Plant Safety," FBIS Document
FTS19991206000400.
[2] Roger Boyes, "Chernobyl 'is millennial
time bomb'," The Times, 15 December 1999, http://www.the-times.co.uk.
Entered 12/10/99 GD}
11/30/99: UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS BELIEVE NPPs READY
FOR YEAR 2000
On 23 November, Enerhoatom executive director for
production Viktor Stovbun told reporters that all of Ukraine's NPPs are
prepared for the year 2000. He said that control, protection, and
safety systems will not be affected by Y2K. Enerhoatom's President, Mykola
Dudchenko, said that Y2K-associated problems are possible in management
and bookkeeping.[1] In a 9 December interview with UT-2 television network,
Vasyl Durdynets, acting minister for emergency situations, stated he is
not worried about Y2K and its implications for Ukrainian NPPs. Durdynets
was concerned, however, that government officials do not often attend Y2K
staff meetings.[2] Oleg Osheka, Zaporizhzhya NPP spokesman, told ITAR-TASS
on 10 December that the Zaporizhzhya facility is prepared for Y2K.[3]
Sources:
[1] Interfax Ukraine Business Panorama,
Issue 357, 30 November 1999; in "Ukraine Business Panorama for 2-29 Nov
99," FBIS Document FTS19991130000873.
[2] UT-2 Television Network, 9 December
1999; in "Y2K: Ukrainian Officials to Work Overnight 1 Jan," FBIS Dcoument
FTS19991210001513.
[3] Anatoly Gordeyev, ITAR-TASS, 10
December 1999; in "Y2K: No Threat to Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant," FBIS
Document FTS199912110001516. {Entered 12/17/99 GD}
5/14/99: IAEA FINDS MOST UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS SAFE
Based on the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy's annual
report on safety conditions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, the IAEA
found Ukrainian nuclear power reactors to be safe, expressing only minor
concern over the safety of the Chornobyl nuclear facility, Interfax reported
on 14 May 1999.[1] Oleksandr Smyshlyayev, head of the Ukrainian Nuclear
Regulatory Administration, however, pointed out in July 1999 that Ukraine
should improve safety measures at Units 1 and 2 (VVER-440 reactors)
at the Rivne nuclear power plant. He indicated that Ukraine allocates only
$6-7 million annually for safety measures at each reactor, which is insufficient.
Smyshlyayev said underfunding is hampering safety analysis at Ukrainian
power plants, which is needed to improve the security and reliability of
the reactors, avoid unplanned shutdowns, and replace outdated equipment.[2]
Sources:
[1] "MAGATE pozitivno otsenivayet uroven
bezopasnosti ukrainskikh AES," Interfax, 14 May 1999.
[2] UNIAN, 3 July 1999; in "Ukraine
Failing To Improve Safety Of Nuclear Reactors," FBIS Document FTS19990705001071.
{Entered 9/8/99 SK}
4/8/99: MINISTRY ORDERS PRE-Y2K COMPUTER
CHECK
To prevent potential nuclear accidents arising from the so-called Y2K bug,
the Nuclear Regulatory Administration of the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental
Protection and Nuclear Safety has ordered that computer software at every
Ukrainian nuclear power plant be checked. Unit 6 at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear
power plant will be the first to undergo a check-up, scheduled for 22 April
1999.[1] In January, Chornobyl Director Vitaliy Tovstonohov stated that
a simulation conducted on a Chornobyl-type rector had showed that the reactor
is safe. Former Chornobyl Director Serhiy Parashin, however, noted that
several unknowns remain.[2] Westron, a joint venture between Khartron and
Westinghouse, announced in March that it has designed a "simple and inexpensive"
computer program that may solve the Y2K problem in Ukrainian nuclear power
plant control systems.[3] Eight Western countries have extended help to
Ukraine for dealing with the technical and financial aspects of the Y2K
computer problem.[4] According to Parashin, Ukraine's costs for ameliorating
the Y2K problem are unofficially estimated at $50 million.[5]
Sources:
[1] Intelnews, 9 April 1999; in "Ukraine To Test Nuclear
Plants For Y2K Problems," FBIS Document FTS19990410000010.
[2] Christopher Price, "Planning For the Worst, Hoping
For the Best: Year 2000: Focus On the Nuclear Industry,"
Financial Times,
13 January 1999, p. 14; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.
[3] DINAU, 10 March 1999; in "Ukraine Experts Find Y2K Solution
For Nuclear Plants," FBIS Document FTS19990315001211.
[4] AFP, 4 March 1999; in "Ex-Director Warns Of Millennium
Bug Chernobyl Accident," FBIS Document FTS19990304001277.
[5] "The Computer Needs Money,"
Vechirniy Kiev, 23
January 1999, p.4; in "Ukraine Needs $50 Million To Deal WIth Y2K Bug Problem,"
FBIS Document FTS19990127000302. {Entered 4/6/99 SK}
9/21-25/98: UKRAINE AND SLOVAKIA SIGN AGREEMENT
ON NUCLEAR SAFETY, EARLY WARNING COOPERATION
At the 42nd General Conference of the IAEA on 21-25
September 1998, Ukraine and Slovakia signed an agreement on the timely
announcement of nuclear accidents, information exchange, and cooperation
in nuclear safety and radiation protection.
[TASR, 29 September 1998; in "Nuclear
Safety, Early Warning Accord Signed With Ukraine," FBIS-EEU-98-272.] {Entered
11/15/99 SK}
10/23/96: WORLD BANK APPROVES CREDIT TO
UPGRADE UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR REACTORS
Taking into account the future closure of Chornobyl, the World Bank's Board
of Directors approved a $317 million credit for upgrading 14 nuclear reactors
in Ukraine.[1] Approximately one-third of this credit will be in cash,
enabling Ukraine to purchase nuclear fuel from Russia for the coming winter.
The credit is part of a $900 million financial aid program, provided by
the World Bank to Ukraine for 1996-1998.[2] However, Minister of Environmental
Protection and Nuclear Safety Yuriy Kostenko has said that the loan will
not help Ukraine modernize its reactors, adding "We are just burning money
in inefficient plans." Kostenko emphasized that Kiev's priority is completing
the two reactors at Khmelnytskyy-2 and Rivne-4.[3]
Sources:
[1] Jamestown Foundation Monitor, 10/23/96.
[2] "Ukraine Near To Agreeing To Shut Down Chernobyl #1,"
Post-Soviet
Nuclear & Defense Monitor, 28 October 1996, p. 1.
[3] Ann MacLachlan, "Ukraine Hints Delay In Closing Chernobyl
If Money Doesn't Come," Nucleonics Week, 31 October 1996, pp. 16-17.
11/16-12/7/95: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY OF JAPAN
WILL HOLD THREE UKRAINIAN-JAPANESE SEMINARS ON NUCLEAR SAFETY
The Science and Technology Agency of Japan sponsored the
first Ukraine-Japan seminar on nuclear safety. Three additional seminars,
one on the former Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe, another
on Asian countries, and the third on radioactive waste and spent fuel management,
will be commissioned yearly by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute.
["Ukraine-Japan Seminar On Nuclear Safety," ATOMS IN JAPAN,
p. 26.]
9/95: UKRAINE AND BELARUS WORK ON EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
The Executive Committee on Hydrometerology in coordination
with the Belarusian Security Council has begun work on an early warning
system for accidents at nuclear power stations located near the Belarusian
border. This system was referred to earlier as the "Gamma-1" system (see
5-6/95). The system located across from Ignalina is expected to be on-line
by 4/96. Monitoring systems at the Belarusian borders by Smolensk (Russia),
Rivne (Ukraine), and Chornobyl are anticipated to be in place by 2005.
Ukraine is expected to cooperate in the development of an interstate system
which will be capable of monitoring all accidents on Belarusian and Ukrainian
territory.
Sources:
[1] CISNP Discussions with Ukrainian official, 10/95.
[2] "Radiation Early Warning System to Be Set Up Near Border
With Lithuania," BBC MONITORING SERVICE, 10/18/95.
[3] Minsk Radio, 9/18/95; in FBIS-SOV-95-181, Daily Report,
9/18/95.
5-6/95: MONITORING SYSTEMS WILL BE DEVELOPED IN BELARUS
AND UKRAINE
A 3.5 million ECU contract within the framework of the TACIS
program was signed by the German firm Hormann Systemtechnik to develop
the "Gamma-1" system in Ukraine and Belarus. This system will monitor the
Rivne and Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Ukraine and the Ignalina
NPP in Lithuania. The system will have 47 units to monitor gamma radiation,
one unit to monitor concentrations of alpha and beta aerosols, and two
units to monitor gamma activity in the water. In addition, there will be
5 mobile stations, 3 local stations, and 2 national monitoring centers.
[NUCNET NEWS, No. 46, 1995; in BYULLETEN TSENTRA OBSHCHECSTVENNOY
INFORMATSII PO ATOMNOY ENERGII, 5-6/95, p. 61.]
4/18/95: UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR LAW
ENTERS INTO FORCE
Ukraine's nuclear law "On the Use of Atomic Energy" passed
by the Verkhovna Rada on 2/8/95 has entered into force by decree of President
Kuchma. The Rada has approved a resolution that relieves foreign firms
from civil responsibility in the case of a nuclear accident. This resolution,
which will only be legally binding once the corresponding legislation is
adopted, should clear the way for Western companies to become more involved
in safety improvement work in Ukraine. Mykhailo Pavlovskyi, Chairman of
the Rada Standing Commission for Nuclear Policies and Nuclear Security,
said that the Verkhovna Rada laid the basis for the ratification of the
Vienna Convention when it passed the law "On the Use of Atomic Energy and
Radiation Safety." The Supreme Rada intends to pass additional "by-laws"
specifying how the law "On the Use of Atomic Energy" will be implemented,
especially in terms of state liability. The current Ukrainian law does
not channel liability for nuclear damage to the installation operator.
It does, however, channel "complete responsibility" to the NPP owner, with
no evidence needed except the mere fact of an accident's occurrence.
Sources:
[1] "Ukraine's New Nuclear Law in Force," NUCNET NEWS, No.
192-193, 5/5/95.
[2] Ann MacLachlan, "Ukraine Lawmakers say 1995 Goal is Vienna
Convention Ratification," NUCLEONICS WEEK, 7/6/95, p. 18.
[3] Ann MacLachlan, "Russian, Ukraine Nuclear Laws Continue
In Slow Revision Process," NUCLEONICS WEEK, 9/14/95, pp. 10-11.
[4] "Ukraine," by Nikolai Kurilchik and Alexei Breus, NUCLEAR
EUROPE WORLDSCAN, 7-8/95, p. 76.
10/24/94: RADA CONSIDERS DRAFT LAW
The draft law on "Nuclear Energy Utilization and Radiation
Safety" was submitted to the Supreme Rada of Ukraine.
[Correspondence with Ukrainian nuclear official, 1/95.]
Last updated 15 December 2003 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.
This file is no longer
being updated. For information on developments in the nuclear power industry,
please see the 