OREANDA-NEWS. On November 12, 2007 an international team of 16 experts from Russia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Ukraine started to inspect Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant in the following eight spheres: organization and administration, operation, maintenance, engineering support, operating experience, radiation safety, chemical regimes and  personnel training, reported the press-centre of Smolensk NPP.

The inspection has been organized by the Moscow Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

Such inspections are carried out on the invitation of a nuclear power plant. By inviting partners, nuclear power plants demonstrate their openness and readiness to use the best international experience. Such inspections are useful for both parties and help NPPs to enhance their efficiency.

The deputy technical director of Rosenergoatom Concern Vladimir Aksenov said: “This is the second large-scale inspection of Smolensk NPP. The first one was conducted in 2001. This inspection is supposed to show what has changed in the work of the Russian nuclear power plants in the last years.”

Almost all the experts and the host specialists have worked in the nuclear sphere for over 20 years and have huge experience and highest possible qualification.

For example, “Organization and Administration” are being inspected by the chief engineer of Kursk NPP-the head of the group Alexander Uvakin and the deputy chief engineer for safety of Leningrad NPP Konstantin Kudryavtsev – both specialists have worked in the nuclear industry for over 30 years. “Partner inspections are an effective instrument for revealing deficiencies and exchanging the best experience. The experience of Smolensk NPP is also worth of being shared with others,” Uvakin said.

“Operating Experience” is being inspected by Ladislav Dubsky, the advisor of the head of the safety department-the safety manager of Dukovany NPP (the Czech Republic), and Vladimir Krivokizhin, the head of the safety control department of Kola NPP.

“Radiation Safety” is being inspected by the program manager of the WANO Tokyo Center Koichi Hangai and the head of the radiation control group of Bohunice NPP (Slovakia) Lubomir Dolezaj.

“Chemical Regimes” are being inspected by Katia Minkova, the head of the technical department of Kozloduy NPP (Bulgaria), and Irina Krivosheina, the head of the radio-chemical laboratory of Ignalina NPP (Lithuania).

“Operation” is being inspected by Anatoly Zinchenko, the head of the group of instructors, instructor of Novovoronezh NPP-2 project, and Mcluck Gordon, radiation control expert of Torness NPP (the UK).

“Repair” is being inspected by Viktor Ivlev, the deputy head of the repair department of Volgodonsk NPP, and Anatoly Saygin, the senior engineer for repair of Kalinin NPP.

“Engineering Support” is being inspected by Vyacheslav Fokin, the deputy chief engineer of Bilibinom NPP, and Warren Russel, technical program manager of the WANO Coordinating Center (London, the UK).

“Personnel Training” is being inspected by Viktor Politayev, the head of the general personnel training of the training center of South-Ukrainian NPP (Ukraine), and Alexander Moskvin, the deputy head of the training and methodology department of the training center of Leningrad NPP.

The inspection will last till Nov 24.

During the first partner inspection in 2001, the experts checked up nine spheres. The parties were friendly and open. Then the partners pointed out the high safety of Smolensk NPP and the high professionalism of its personnel.

In 2006 Smolensk NPP was the best among the Russian NPPs in safety culture. This year the plant was the first among the Russian NPPs to receive ISO 9001:2000 quality management certificate.