Workshop on Preparedness for and Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies
On October 11 – 12, the Workshop on Preparedness for and Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies was held by the Ukrainian Nuclear Forum Association (UNF) in cooperation with the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine and the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine.
The workshop`s objectives were to inform UNF members about emergency preparedness and response (EPR) arrangements in Ukraine and to share experience accumulated by various Ukrainian organizations in this area.
The workshop was conducted at the “Emergency and Technical Center” (ETC), a separated entity of the NNEGC “Energoatom” located in the village Bilogorodka of Kiev region. In total, around thirty participants took part in the workshop. The workshop was comprised of three thematic sessions:
- EPR arrangements in Ukraine at the national and regional levels;
- EPR arrangements at facility level: emergency preparedness and response system of the NNEGC “Energoatom”, including NPPs and other separated entities of the company;
- Topical issue: lessons learnt and experience gained from response to accident occurred at Chernobyl and Fukushima NPPs.
The workshop started with the presentation of the representative of the Department of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine on main principles of the national EPR system and coordinating role of the Ministry in regard to its operation and further development. Also, the presentation on the EPR system of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine was delivered as well as presentations of representatives of the departments of the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhya and Mykolaiv regions concerning NPP off-site emergency planning and experience gained from regional-level emergency exercises.
During the second session two lectures were given. O. Kriklivets, Deputy Director of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Department of the NNEGC “Energoatom” informed participants about structure, functions, available resources and modes of operation of the NNEGC “Energoatom”`s EPR system. Further, this information was supplemented by the representative of the Zaporizhzhya NPP who informed participants about EPR arrangements at Ukrainian NPPs.
A video conference session with the NNEGC “Energoatom”`s crisis center in Kiev, its back-up crisis center in the village Dniprovske of Chernihiv region and with crisis centers of NPPs was held to demonstrate capabilities of the NNEGC “Energoatom”`s satellite communication system.
A. Forostenko, Deputy Chief Engineer of ETC and other ETC specialists demonstrated vehicles and equipment to be used to mitigate consequences at an NPP in emergency. Also, the technology for decontamination of surfaces with foam generators and blowing agents was demonstrated. In its turn, experts of the State Scientific and Technical Center on Nuclear and Radiation Center demonstrated the mobile radiological laboratory “RanidSONNI”.
The third session was in especially strong interest of participants. V. Glygalo, Deputy Director of the “Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology” gave a presentation about public notification in the early days of the Chornobyl accident. The representative of the UNF member “UTEM” L. Oleynikov reported about the experience of this organization gained in the course of mitigation of the consequences of the Chornobyl accident and the representative of the NNEGC “Energoatom” delivered a lecture about the accident at the NPP Fukushima.
Finally, the representative of the ChNPP presented information on measures to improve NPP emergency preparedness that have been implemented at the ChNPP during the post-accident period and results of emergency exercises conducted at ChNPP recently.
Summarizing results of the workshop, all participants agreed on its importance and value as a forum that gave an opportunity to share experience and discuss topical issues in the area of emergency preparedness and response to nuclear and radiological accidents.
Pictures of the seminar can be viewed in photo gallery.