An inspection of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (SUNPP)

From May 20 to 22, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) conducted an inspection of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (SUNPP). This inspection precedes amendments to the operating licenses of all three power units of the plant. The commission reviewed the completeness and accuracy of the information provided in the documents submitted with the application for license amendments.

The operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants is subject to licensing, which is a key element of state regulation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. This process is governed by the Laws of Ukraine “On the Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety” and “On Licensing Activities in the Field of Nuclear Energy Use.” Following the change in the ownership structure of SE NNEGC Energoatom to a joint-stock company, all documentation, including licenses, must be updated accordingly. Chief Engineer of the South Ukraine NPP, Andrii Fomytskyi, explained:
“The changes are related to Energoatom’s transformation into a joint-stock company. We must reflect this in our documentation. The SNRIU commission came to verify the completeness of the changes and the documents we submitted for license updates.”

The inspection commission included representatives from the SNRIU as well as from the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine (SSTC NRS), which provides technical support. The commission was headed by Roman Kharenko, Director of the Department for Nuclear Facility Safety and Deputy Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine.

“The areas subject to review and inspection include seismic safety, ageing management, operational safety, radiation safety, physical protection, among others. The task of the inspection team is to ensure that the documents submitted in support of the license amendments are accurate and error-free,” stated Roman Kharenko.

A ten-day preparation period preceded the on-site inspection at SUNPP. Commission members had to review more than thirty documents. During the visit, inspectors held in-depth discussions with department heads responsible for various safety areas. Based on the results of the inspection, the commission compiled its conclusions and recommendations in the official Inspection Report. This process helps to eliminate mistakes and inaccuracies in critical state-level documentation, as each license is issued for a specific stage in the lifecycle of a nuclear power unit.

Source: SUNPP