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On March 28, 2019, a regular technical meeting of the U4.01 / 14C Project Working Group took place with the participation of representatives of the consortium and a wide range of stakeholders, namely: the Beneficiary, the State Agency for the Exclusion Zone Managements (SAUMEZ), the End User – the State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association “Radon” (SC “Ukr SA”Radon”), the State Interregional Specialized Plants (SISP), which are part of the SC “Ukr SA”Radon”, with participation of technical experts, Key and Non-key project experts (from “Ukratominstruments” Corporation, Brenk, DMT and Plejades), experts of the JSO, Joint Support Office, Regulator’s Representatives, and other stakeholders of the project.

The technical meeting summed up the work on the implementation of Task 2 Project U4.01/14C, namely, the analysis of input data for safety assessment and the development of typical technical solutions, and outlined the main directions of work for the current and future Project Tasks to coordinate the further steps.

The following presentations were presented to the attention of the participants:

• General characteristics and key features of the existing situation at SISP sites;
• Sufficiency of available input data for the project purposes;
• Recommendations regarding possible ways of acquiring missing data;
• Preliminary analysis of uncertainties and their impact on safety assessments and development of standard technical solutions under the project;
• Results of previously implemented or on-going national and international projects;
• Analysis of a set of specialized computer codes used by SC UkrSA Radon for safety assessment;
• Preliminary conclusion for measures at the SISP sites;
• Analysis of the project risks;
• Next project steps related to Task 3: Comprehensive Safety Assessment and Task 5: Standardized Technical Solution: Recommendations.

Therefore, based on the results of consideration and discussion of the available summary information from the Consultant, Priorities for Beneficiaries and End Users, the exchange of preliminary results, the main objective of the technical meeting of the project was successfully achieved – a clear definition of the next steps to foster the project implementation. The technical meetings initiated by the “Ukratominstruments” Corporation are an effective tool for ensuring the consideration of each expert’s opinion and the formation and implementation of a joint strategy for the successful implementation of each of the further Project Tasks. Consequently, the corporation is approaching the process of organizing and holding joint technical meetings with all seriousness.

The materials of the technical meeting form the basis of the drafted Task 2 Report, which has already been forwarded to the Beneficiary and the End User for consideration and approval.

Recall that the overall objectives of this international technical assistance project are:

• Implementation of comprehensive safety assessments for the five SISP of SC “Ukr SA”Radon” (Kiev, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and Lviv SISP) and determination of the current condition of the “problematic” storages;
• Transfer of sustainable capability to the SC “Ukr SA”Radon” in safety assessment by conducting qualified training for designated End-user specialists, both in Ukraine and abroad;
• Design of remediation measures for problematic storages located at five End user sites: developing the report with typical technical solutions, Remediation roadmap, related design documentation and safety case and subsequent Regulator approval.

It will be recalled, as of the day Ukraine exports spent fuel from Rivne, Khmelnytsky and Yuzhnoukrainska NPPs for temporary storage to Russia annually spending 150-200 million $. On June 7, 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 380-p “About approval of the project” Construction of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility for spent nuclear fuel reactors of the VVER type of domestic nuclear power plants”. The contractor in providing technology for the storage and production of exclusive equipment is the American company “Holtec International”, while the function of operation of the storage facility is entrusted to SE “NNEGC” Energoatom”. The contractor is PJSC “Ukrenergomontazh”. The introduction of CSFSF in operation is scheduled for March 2020.
An important issue during the operation of the CSFSF is the maintenance of a high level of radiation safety in the process of performing technological operations, automated continuous monitoring of the operational situation at the facility, as well as the prevention of emergencies. This task is provided by the radiation monitoring system (RMS).
In February 2019, the “Ukratominstruments” corporation entered into an agreement with PJSC “Ukrenergomontazh” for the development and implementation of the RMS of the CSFSF. Within the framework of the contract, works on the development of design solutions, operational documentation, preparation for the introduction into operation, personnel training, commissioning, assembly and testing will be carried out.
In order to improve the environmental radio ecological state control in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, the data from the RMS system of CSFSF will be integrated into the comprehensive radiation monitoring and early warning system (CRMEWS), which was developed and put into operation by “Ukratominstruments” corporation in 2011.
So way, participation in this project is one of the priority directions of the “Ukratominstruments” corporation activity. The management of the Corporation expressed the wish to strengthen and further develop a long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with the NAEK “Energoatom”.

On March 18, 2019, “Ukratominstruments” corporation started installation works in the framework of the project on transferring of a local boiler-house on the 14A Kupchynsky Street to a biofuel in Ternopil. A large-scale energy saving project involves the use of modern technology that will allow the local community to significantly reduce utility costs.
At the stage that has started, in the near future, the Corporation will install and connect the equipment (incl. auxiliary equipment), as well as the electrical part and automation system. In addition, the facility will be equipped with modern fire alarm and automatic fire extinguishing systems. In this case, internal sealed fire doors will be installed and the emergency exit from the building will be mounted.
Taking into account long-term experience and constant corporate traditions, during the performance of the above-mentioned works, the “Ukratominstruments” corporation will ensure strict compliance with high safety standards at the production site.

On March 2019, the “Ukratominstruments” corporation and international consortium experts of the EC Project U4.01/14C “Comprehensive Safety Assessment of Radioactive Waste Management Sites operated by State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association ‘Radon’ and Design of Remediation for Specific Facilities”, finalized the visits to separate RAW management facilities that are thepart of the State Corporation” Ukrainian State Association “Radon” (hereinafter – the SC “Ukr SA “Radon”), by carrying out the visit to the Lviv SISP.

Therefore, the priorities for all project participants and stakeholders in the framework of Task 2 Project performance are implemented in full. In its turn, this has ensured a gradual transition to the implementation of the following, no less important Project Objectives, namely, the Comprehensive Safety Assessment and the development of a Standardized Project Technical Solution.
Purpose of Lviv SISP visit is familiarization with the key features of the existing situation on the radioactive waste management on the SISP’s sites in order to summarize the results and verify the adequacy of the data and documents available, make recommendations and conclusions on the measures that are to be implemented to the extent priority, as well as – to conduct preliminary analysis of uncertainties and their impact on future safety assessments and development of standard technical solutions within the project.

The attention of specialists in particular was focused on the study of:

• Engineering-geological characteristics of problematic RAW sites
• Physical-geographical characteristics of the territory
• Particularities of the use of land resources located in the sanitary protection zone
• Demographic data of the nearest settlements
• Technical condition of the Liquid Radioactive Waste (LRW) storages Solid Radioactive Waste (SRW) storages, and other facilities of the Radon SISP
• Nuclide condition of radioactive waste storages
• Basic technological processes
• as well as obtaining general information about problematic RW Lviv SISP sites.

The collected data have become a significant contribution to the development of the of the Task 2 Project Technical Report which is already sent to the End User and the Beneficiary for consideration and approval.

FYI: the overall objective of this international technical assistance project is to implement comprehensive safety assessments for five specialized facilities of the State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association ‘Radon’ and to develop measures for rehabilitation and remediation for problematic storages.

“Ukratominstruments” corporation yet again successfully passed the ТІС audit procedure, provided by the certification and personnel authority of TÜV Thüringen e.V. and confirmed the high standard quality system, implemented since 2003. By results of the audit corporation has received subsequent certificate of conformity of ISO 9001:2015 quality management system – the only document on the compliance of security that gives confidence in the safety of products and services received by the consumer and acknowledges the transparency of production processes, built on the use of the most effective resources with minimal impact on the environment. This is the business card of the corporation.

It should be noted that the implementation of quality management system – is a strategic decision of the “Ukratominstruments” corporation, one of the factors that helps not only keep on its activity, but also become one of the strongest in its field, not only in Ukraine but also abroad.

“Ukratominstruments” corporation has always tried to maintain a reputation as a supplier of competitive and quality products in the context of domestic and foreign markets. And for the time being it succeeds in it. ISO Certificates may be obtained by different companies of different sectors, but only if they can demonstrate responsibility to the experts and total quality control of manufactured goods and services. The certificate, of course, does not set quality standards for separate specific goods or services, but it determines the efficiency of production and management, from which, in fact, the quality depends on.

Obtaining the ISO 9001:2015 certificate helps “Ukratominstruments” corporation to solve a number of tasks within the business perspective, namely:

• Improve the quality of products and services and get a positive assessment and customer loyalty;
• To increase competitiveness both in Ukraine and abroad;
• Establish relationships with foreign partners in international projects;
• Obtain benefits for participation in international tenders;
• Improve transparency of the corporation’s management activities;
• Establish a mechanism for continuous improvement of the management system and improve the efficiency of experts at all levels.

Scope of ISO 9001:2015 certificate applies to activities such as design and development, organization of manufacturing, implementation, delivery and service of:

• instruments and devices for radiation, ecological control and monitoring
• information and diagnostic automated and control systems and environmental radiation monitoring systems,
• automated early warning and detecting systems
• conditioning devices for safe, temporary storage and transportation of nuclear waste.

The top management of “Ukratominstruments” corporation considers the product quality and system management process as the main condition for profit, stable economic position and social development for the benefit of consumers, partners, staff, shareholders and all stakeholders in the production of competitive products and services.

In view of this, on January 30, 2019, the first technical Workshop of the project consortium representatives with the End User, the State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association”Radon” (SC “Ukr SA”Radon”), the State Interregional Specialized Plants (SISP), which are part of the SC “Ukr SA”Radon”, with participation of technical experts, Key and Non-key project experts (from “Ukratominstruments” Corporation, Brenk, DMT and Plejades).

The topic of the technical seminar is dedicated to the analysis of data for the safety assessment of radioactive waste storage facilities at Radon sites in Ukraine. Among the materials related to this topic, the following presentations considered at the technical seminar should be noted:

• Data analysis for safety assessment;
• Overview of the information provided by SC “Ukr SA”Radon” in terms of completeness and compliance with the “Guideline for the safety re-assessment of the existing storage/disposal facilities and criteria of decision-making concerning subsequent measures on these facilities”;
• Discussion on how to manage uncertainties for retrieval approaches;
• International Experience with waste retrieval from old storage facilities or non compliant near surface disposal facilities by example of German Asse disposal as well as international experiences with radioactive waste retrieval and processing in Canada, Hungary, Slovakia, France and Estonia;
• Analysis of technical solutions for the removal of radioactive waste from storage facilities and proposed engineering approach.

The main objective of the technical workshop on the project was to discuss information from the

have an exchange on preliminary findings and to discuss the next steps to foster project progress.

Recall that the overall objectives of this international technical assistance project are:

• Implementation of comprehensive safety assessments for the five SISP of SC “Ukr SA”Radon” (Kiev, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and Lviv SISP) and determination of the current condition of the “problematic” storages;
• Transfer of sustainable capability to the SC “Ukr SA”Radon” in safety assessment by conducting qualified training for designated End-user specialists, both in Ukraine and abroad;
• Design of remediation measures for problematic storages located at five End user sites: developing the report with typical technical solutions, Remediation roadmap, related design documentation and safety case and subsequent Regulator approval.

Since 2015, Ukratominstruments Corporation, being a member of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program with the territorial community of Oster city of Chernihiv region for the production and supply of thermal energy, has re-equipped the local boiler house by installing solid fuel boilers and building a new heat pipeline division. This year, the Corporation successfully completed all the necessary measures to prepare the boiler house and heating networks of the city for operation in the new heating season 2018-2019.
According to the order of the Oster City Council Executive Committee No. 71-p dated October 12, 2018 “On the Commencement of the Heating Season 2018-2019” and in accordance with the requirements of sanitary and temperature standards, Ukratominstruments Corporation began to supply heat to the premises of budgetary organizations, schools, hospitals and residential properties of Oster on October 16, 2018.
Let us remember that in the framework of the preparatory activities, Ukratominstruments Corporation previously executed the following works:
– replacement of 65 meters of old network pipes;
– maintenance operations of the heat pipeline (cleaning of wells, tightening of bolted connections, seal tamping, etc.) and its hydraulic tests;
– water-chemical washing of boilers.

On September 25, the Corporation delegation took an active part in holding the seminar on the implementation of the European Commission project “Emergency measures on liquidation of the emergency condition of the industrial site of the former uranium production of the Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant (PCP) in Kamensky, Dnipropetrovsk region.

This enterprise was launched in 1948 and uranium for the first Soviet atomic bomb was obtained at its facilities. Uranium salts from uranium ores and their concentrates delivered from the republics of the USSR, the CMEA countries, France and Spain have been extracted there until 1991. A feature of the facility is that its activities took place in an atmosphere of special secrecy, and only in 2001 it became possible to obtain primary information about the environmental situation on the site. For the same reason, as of today there is no legal and technical documentation with respect to the management of radioactive waste generated during the period of its most active operation and storage in the so-called tailings at the territory of the enterprise. At the same time, the first such storages did not even have a special waterproofing protection and were located in the floodplain of the Dnieper.

In this way, a year ago, under the guidance of the European Commission, the project “Emergency measures on liquidation of the emergency condition of the industrial site of the former uranium production of the Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant” was launched. The project is funded for 3.5 million euros, and the consortium under the auspices of the Swedish company Facilia AB, which included the “Ukratominstruments” corporation, was established for its implementation.

The objective of the seminar held in September was to achieve one of the key objectives of this EU project, namely, training employees of enterprises located on the territory of the former PCP of the rules, methods and means of minimizing the harmful effects of radiation on the human body, which are still present on the industrial site of the former PCP. The leading speaker of the event was a Key expert of the “Facilia” consortium Eric Gaulle, who outlined the importance of the project, aimed primarily at ensuring the safety of the population of the region.

Experts Sergey Tomusyak and Alexander Pushkash were speakers on behalf of “Ukratominstruments” corporation. The presenters of the “Ukratominstruments” corporation noted the presence of a unique long-term practical experience of the Corporation’s specialists in the field of nuclear and radiation safety, in engineering support of large-scale and long-term projects to ensure nuclear safety of territories, first of all – in the exclusion zone of Chernobyl NPP. It was emphasized that these factors will be the key to provide the effective work of the entire Consortium, a guarantee of high-quality implementation of an international EU project and, ultimately, achieving the goals of a global improvement of the environmental situation in one of the problematic industrial regions of Ukraine.

On February 19, 2018, the Corporation “Ukratominstruments” conducted an observation audit and confirmed the work of the quality management system in accordance with the requirements of the standard ISO 9001: 2015. Certification was conducted by the official representative of the German body for the certification of management systems and personnel TUV Thuringen (TÜV Thuringen) in Ukraine – LLC INTERSERT-UKRAINE.
The auditors of LLC INTERSERT-UKRAINE noted the high level of skills of specialists and the technological process introduced in the corporation, which is confirmed by the authority of the organization in the industry and positive feedback from customers.
About the ISO 9001 standard
ISO 9001 is an international standard that establishes requirements for quality management systems (QMS) for organizations whose activities are aimed at increasing customer satisfaction through the effective application of QMS, including processes for continuous improvement of the system, which seek to ensure that products (services) meet the requirements of consumers, in the number of legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to the activities of this organization.
The presence of the relevant ISO 9001: 2015 certificate, recognized in all countries of the European Union, indicates the competence of the personnel, the conformity of the quality of the materials and the related processes.