Reading between World Nuclear News lines, did Russia’s Leningrad nuclear power plant have some safety issues?

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I know that this will read as just fine and dandy – because Russia never lets on about any problems in its nuclear infrastructure, but I think it;s just a hint of that.

IAEA notes improved safety at Leningrad plant, WNN, 30 May 2019 Rosenergoatom, the operator of Russia’s Leningrad nuclear power plant, has strengthened operational safety in response to the findings of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review in 2017, a follow-up mission has concluded. The team encouraged the operator to pursue continuous improvement.

….. In November 2017, the IAEA completed a 17-day mission to Leningrad unit 4, which was connected to the grid in 1981 and is one of four light water-cooled graphite-moderated reactors (RBMK-1000) located at the site in Sosnovy Bor, 70 km west of St Petersburg. Plant operator Rosenergoatom is a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.That mission made suggestions for improving operational safety at the plant, including: the use of leading indicators to further improve its performance; strengthening the radiation protection programme; and regular reviews of chemistry surveillance and control programme to ensure its continuous improvement……

The follow-up mission found improvements to control of movable items in some sensitive areas in the plant; the use of human performance tools; and the plant chemistry surveillance and control programme.

However, the team noted that more time is required to demonstrate that improvements are fully effective and sustained in the use of forward-looking and proactive performance indicators at the plant, and in the radiation contamination control programme.

The OSART team provided a draft of its report to the plant’s management and will submit the final report to the Russian government within three months……

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, Leningrad NPP is Russia’s biggest nuclear power plant in terms of its installed capacity, which is 4200 MWe. It is also the only plant in the country comprising two types of reactor: Phase I of the plant comprises four RBMK-1000 units, while Phase II will have four VVER-1200 units. Leningrad unit 1 was shut down for decommissioning on 21 December last year. http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-notes-improved-safety-at-Leningrad-plant

June 1, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, safety

1 Comment »

Agreed. Astute observation. Thanks for the article and work.

This is great article by Prominent Physician, radionuclide Expert, and Nuclear Catastrophe Expert, Dr. Conrad Miller on Rosatoms current state of affairs.
http://www.crestofthewave.com/category/documents/

Putin/Russia Rosatom Corporation Now Control 60% Of World’s Nuclear
Technology

Rosatom – Russia’s Atomic Corporation, Now Controlling 60% of World’s Nuclear Technology[/caption]

“While we have been distracted by the Trump chaos affecting the entire world over the past few years, Vladimir Putin and his nuclear ambitions have taken over 60% of the world’s nuclear technology. This includes his brilliant idea of developing and selling FLOATING nuclear reactors. Where will their waste end up? Who will possibly monitor it? There is bribery and corruption in the tale, spread across the planet from Egypt to Bangladesh to South Africa to Finland and Egypt, as only the murderous dictator Vladimir Putin could create. Michael Flynn wanted to be part of the sales team, as we now know.”

All the things you cover so well! Thankyou

Comment by doug | June 2, 2019 | Reply