Feb 4, 2025
The IAEA observes a dedication to safety at the Novovoronezh facility.
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The operator of Russia's Novovoronezh nuclear power plant has demonstrated a commitment to improving operational safety, according to a conclusion by an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission team.
The purpose of the IAEA Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) missions is to evaluate safety performance against IAEA safety standards, identify areas of excellence, and suggest enhancements.
At the request of the Russian government, an OSART mission took place from January 13 to 30. The team included seven experts from Belarus, Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa, along with four IAEA staff members and an observer from Russia. They assessed the operational practices in units 4 and 6 of the Novovoronezh plant, focusing on leadership and management for safety, training and qualification, operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, chemistry, and accident management. A previous OSART mission was conducted for unit 5 in 2015.
Located in the Voronezh region, about 600 kilometers south of Moscow, the Novovoronezh plant is owned by the state nuclear corporation Rosatom and is operated by Novovoronezh NPP, a subsidiary of Rosenergoatom Joint Stock Company. The facility comprises seven units, with units 1, 2, and 3 permanently shut down and decommissioned. Units 4, 5, 6, and 7 are operational, all of which are pressurized water reactors (VVERs); units 4 and 5 are VVER-440 and VVER-1000, while both units 6 and 7 are VVER-1200.
Rosatom highlighted that this OSART mission was distinctive because it was conducted simultaneously for two Russian power units—unit 4 and unit 6—featuring reactors from different VVER generations: 440 and 1200.
According to the IAEA, "The OSART team noted that the personnel at the plant are skilled and dedicated, striving to enhance the operational safety and reliability of the facility."
The team recognized one best practice that could be shared with the global nuclear industry: the main control room operators have an electronic display for real-time monitoring of hydrogen ignition risk within the containment building in case of a severe accident.
The mission also offered suggestions to further bolster safety, advising that the plant should consider improving the consistent use of tools aimed at reducing human error, enhancing the quality of maintenance activities, and refining the processes for monitoring and reporting equipment conditions and material deficiencies to promptly identify and address any degradation.
Vladimir Povarov, Director of the Novovoronezh Plant, expressed gratitude to the IAEA's international experts for their thorough inspection of the two power units, unit 4 and unit 6. He noted, "This team has a combined operational experience of over 282 years in the nuclear power sector."
"Three of the four operational power units at Novovoronezh NPP have already undergone an IAEA international peer review successfully, and we plan for power unit 7 to undergo this process in the future."
A draft of the mission's report has been shared with plant management, and after addressing any factual comments, the final report will be submitted to the Russian government within three months.
The purpose of the IAEA Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) missions is to evaluate safety performance against IAEA safety standards, identify areas of excellence, and suggest enhancements.
At the request of the Russian government, an OSART mission took place from January 13 to 30. The team included seven experts from Belarus, Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa, along with four IAEA staff members and an observer from Russia. They assessed the operational practices in units 4 and 6 of the Novovoronezh plant, focusing on leadership and management for safety, training and qualification, operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, chemistry, and accident management. A previous OSART mission was conducted for unit 5 in 2015.
Located in the Voronezh region, about 600 kilometers south of Moscow, the Novovoronezh plant is owned by the state nuclear corporation Rosatom and is operated by Novovoronezh NPP, a subsidiary of Rosenergoatom Joint Stock Company. The facility comprises seven units, with units 1, 2, and 3 permanently shut down and decommissioned. Units 4, 5, 6, and 7 are operational, all of which are pressurized water reactors (VVERs); units 4 and 5 are VVER-440 and VVER-1000, while both units 6 and 7 are VVER-1200.
Rosatom highlighted that this OSART mission was distinctive because it was conducted simultaneously for two Russian power units—unit 4 and unit 6—featuring reactors from different VVER generations: 440 and 1200.
According to the IAEA, "The OSART team noted that the personnel at the plant are skilled and dedicated, striving to enhance the operational safety and reliability of the facility."
The team recognized one best practice that could be shared with the global nuclear industry: the main control room operators have an electronic display for real-time monitoring of hydrogen ignition risk within the containment building in case of a severe accident.
The mission also offered suggestions to further bolster safety, advising that the plant should consider improving the consistent use of tools aimed at reducing human error, enhancing the quality of maintenance activities, and refining the processes for monitoring and reporting equipment conditions and material deficiencies to promptly identify and address any degradation.
Vladimir Povarov, Director of the Novovoronezh Plant, expressed gratitude to the IAEA's international experts for their thorough inspection of the two power units, unit 4 and unit 6. He noted, "This team has a combined operational experience of over 282 years in the nuclear power sector."
"Three of the four operational power units at Novovoronezh NPP have already undergone an IAEA international peer review successfully, and we plan for power unit 7 to undergo this process in the future."
A draft of the mission's report has been shared with plant management, and after addressing any factual comments, the final report will be submitted to the Russian government within three months.