Russian nuclear power station holds accident drill
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
28 Sep 04
Yekaterinburg, 28 September: Wide-ranging exercises on dealing with
an emergency started at 0800 [0400 gmt] today at the Beloyarskaya
nuclear power plant near Yekaterinburg, the plant’s spokesman,
Marianna Bakanova, told ITAR-TASS.
The exercise is organized by the Rosenergoatom company which operates
the plant. Over 500 people are taking part in the drill observed by
officials from the USA, France, China, Ukraine and Armenia.
Management and personnel of the plant are taking part in the drill
along with experts from the emergency and crisis centre of the
Rosenergoatom concern and technical support centres for nuclear
power stations (OPAS) [Russ: okazaniye pomoshchi atomnym stantsiyam]
as well as some hardware and forces invited for the purpose from the
Russian Emergencies and Defence Ministries.
Operational cooperation and the exchange of information when dealing
with a possible emergency at the plant are to be improved during the
drill. The work of special communication equipment and hardware will
be checked as well.
One BN-600 reactor is operating at the plant now. It is the most
powerful fast neutron reactor in the world. Experts from Rosenergoatom
have plans to use nuclear waste that is being brought to Russia in
such reactors.
The third unit of the station is expected to be in service for 30
years and is to be closed by 2010. The fourth power unit with an
800 MW BN-800 reactor is being built at the plant at present and is
expected to be finished in 2009.