OREANDA-NEWS. March 28, 2007 the objective of the visit of Neville Robertshow and Paul Maycock was to consider a package of EC nuclear safety programs for 2007–2013, reported the press-centre of  Rosenergoatom. Accompanied by the chief engineer of the plant Andrey Salnikov and the deputy chief engineer for exploitation Aleksey Zhukov, the guests inspected the plant and pointed out its commitment to high safety standards.

 
Rosenergoatom and the European Commission have 15-year experience of cooperation under TACIS nuclear safety enhancement program. The program was carried out in two directions: supply of modern European equipment to Russian NPPs and personnel training and advising. In 2006 the program was finished. The new joint program is aimed at enhancing the safety of the Russian NPPs and will be based on cooperation rather than one-sided support. This year the European Commission has offered new technology of cooperation - so-called soft projects with focus on the human factor. In this light, the EC is planning to reduce the financing of the equipment supply projects. From now on, they will pay more attention to personnel, management and safety culture.

The EC proposes that each Russian NPP offer its own safety management program. After approval, the NPPs will have to select companies for implementing the projects.
The EC TACIS program has helped Russia to integrate into Europe and the world nuclear community. About 250 safety (technical support) projects worth a total of $198,1mln have been implemented under the TACIS program so far (26 projects worth $32,5mln in 2006). The Russian NPPs have received equipment worth a total of 55,7 EUR and services worth 96,7mln EUR.