MYKOLAIV, APRIL, 26th, 2010, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – World Association of Nuclear Operators has finished partner inspection of the Yuzhnoukrainsk Powerplant, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

16 international experts were finding strong and weak point in the powerplant’s operation. The enterprise was being studied in 8 directions: administration, exploitation, repair, engineer support, exploitation experience, radioactive protection and personnel training.

The team carrying out the partner inspection was composed of prominent nuclear energy experts from Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the USA, Ukraine, China, the Netherlands, Finland and Russia. The group of expert was headed by the engineer of the Kursk Powerplant Aleksandr Uvakin. He described the inspection as successful stressing the result was achieved mostly because of the good organization done by Ukrainian colleagues.

The final results of the inspection are to be provided to Yuzhnoukrainsk powerplant before late May. Summarizing the preliminary results the head of the expert team stated the level of exploitation safety to be rather high at the enterprise.

The experts managed to distinguish three strong points in the plant’s operation (examples of positive experience they had never seen before) and seven positive practices (examples of experience possessed by Yuzhnoukrainsk Powerplant and other). Having received the management’s consent the experts will render this experience to the association making it heritage of nuclear community.

INFORMATION: The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) is an international organisation founded in 1989 after the Chernobyl accident to foster international cooperation and professional excellence within the nuclear industry. Every organisation in the world that operates a nuclear electric generating station is a WANO member. WANO operates four regional centres in Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, and Atlanta, with a coordinating centre in London.

WANO's mission is to maximize safety and reliability of operation of nuclear power plants by exchanging information and encouraging communication, comparison, and emulation amongst its members.