2011-02-03 SE Ignalina NPP Submitted the Final Report on Project B12 and Started an Official Process of Negotiations
On 2 February 2011 State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) submitted the final report on the technological event occurred on 5 October 2010 at INPP to State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI).
During implementation of the scheduled works foreseen in Project B12 “Decontamination of Internal Surfaces of SE Ignalina NPP Main Circulation Circuit, Blowing, Cooling and Water Purification Systems” – Unit 1 circuit decontamination – the loss of containment of one of the components and subsequent flowing out of the chemical agents have occurred.
According to the International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale in the report presented by VATESI this technological event is ascribed to level 0 (zero). Although while implementing such projects the probability of similar technological events always exists, they do not pose a danger to the environment and people since the fuel is unloaded from Unit 1.
The works foreseen in Project B12 will be carried on after the dispute with Project B12 contractor JSC Specialusis Montažas-NTP is solved and INPP has the final assessment of the situation. Only after all project implementation aspects are assessed, the further progress of the project implementation will be determined. The gained information and experience will be taken into account while performing the works. INPP specialists have set the reasons why these failures arise in implementation of the project, therefore, the same technical problems will not repeat during implementation of similar project in future.
On 4 February 2011 the first meeting between Ignalina NPP and JSC “Specialusis Montažas-NTP” will take place. During this meeting on INPP initiative the dispute settlement procedure by negotiations will be started (such procedure is foreseen in contract “Creation of Technology of Decontamination of Internal Surfaces of SE Ignalina NPP Main Circulation Circuit, Blowing, Cooling and Water Purification Systems” signed on 12 January 2010). According to the opinion of INPP specialists, the technological event of 5 October happened during implementation of the scheduled works foreseen in Project B12 “Decontamination of Internal Surfaces of SE Ignalina NPP Main Circulation Circuit, Blowing, Cooling and Water Purification Systems” was caused due to the application of decontamination technology by JSC Specialusis Montažas-NTP.
Data about the number of unusual events taken place at INPP and their level according to the International Nuclear Events Scale INES in 1994-2009
1 unusual event (B12) took place at Ignalina NPP in 2010. According to the International Nuclear Events Scale INES its level is assessed as 0.
Classification of unusual events at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in 1998-2009
For information: In 1990 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved the international Nuclear Incidents and Accidents Scale which covers all the events occurring at facilities of the nuclear power industry beginning with those which do not have any impact on safety and finishing with serious accidents. The events happened at the nuclear safety facilities are registered according to this scale and information about them is spread around the world. When the event is announced through the media the level of accident according to INES scale is also indicated. INES Scale:
7 – MAJOR ACCIDENT. Major release of radioactive materials. Widespread human health and environment effects (e.g. Chernobyl NPP accident in 1986).
6 – SERIOUS ACCIDENT. Significant release of radioactive materials. All countermeasures foreseen in the accidents consequences elimination plan shall be implemented (Kyshtym accident (Russia) in the Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant in 1957)
5 – ACCIDENT WITH WIDER CONSEQUENCES. Limited release of radioactive materials. Some countermeasures foreseen in the accidents liquidation plan shall be implemented (Three Mile Island NPP accident (the USA) in 1997).
4 – ACCIDENT WITH LOCAL CONSEQUENCES Minor release of radioactive materials. The public exposure does not exceed the established norms.
3 – SERIOUS INCIDENT. Very low release of radioactive materials. The public exposure does not exceed the established norms.
2- INCIDENT and 1- ANOMALY. The events of these two levels do not have significant impact on safety. The disturbed operation of a nuclear facility. It is the technical type malfunction. The accident consequences are eliminated on the territory. Radioactive materials do not get into the environment.
| Daiva Rimašauskaitė, Head of Communication- Spokesperson El. p. daiva.rimasauskaite@iae.lt Tel. (8-386) 24442 |
Ignalina NPP decommissioning activities are co-financed by European Union