U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

Chornobyl Initiatives- An Overview -

Laurin R. DoddAugust 1998

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

2IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Objectives• Reduce risk for period of operation• Facilitate conditions supportive of closure• Stabilize shelter

Chornobyl Initiatives

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

3IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Chornobyl RBMK and Shelter

(only Unit 3 is still operating)

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

4IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Chornobyl Initiatives

Radiological and industrial safety upgrades Data and technology needs assessments Ventilation stack stabilization

ShelterBilateral Projects Underway, Near Completion

Transition to Multi-Lateral Effort European Bank (EBRD) will manage finances $300M pledged by G-7, additional $87M pledged in

November 1997. 22 countries now participating EBRD completed tender for program management

Unit - April 1998 Early projects tenders expected July/August 1998

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

5IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Chornobyl Centerfor Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology

President Clinton’s initiative with President Kuchma - May 1995

President Kuchma established the International Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology in 1996• Major initiative to assist Ukraine with shutdown of

ChNPP• U.S. budget for Chornobyl Center programs is

$6.3M through 1998, $1M of this to refurbish Slavutych Lab

• Includes classrooms for worker training, analytical simulator, nuclear data facility, international meeting place, Slavutych community access (language lab), videoconferencing

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

6IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Center Objectives• Provide scientific resource to

assist with ChNPP shutdown• Build on unique ChNPP

experience in nuclear safety and waste management

• Provide central resource on nuclear safety for all Ukrainian NPPs

• Attract international research dollars to Slavutych and Ukraine (job creation)

Chornobyl Centerfor Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

7IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Joint Projects• Creation of modern office and laboratory facility

– Link to international community through satellite telecommunications and Internet

• Shutdown and Deactivation Plan for ChNPP Unit 1• Nuclear Data Facility in operation by nuclear science and

technology community• Spent Fuel Management Plan for Ukrainian nuclear industry• Analytical simulator for training ChNPP operators• International Conferences: Annual Chornobyl Center

Technical Conference, Biomass Remediation, and Energy Efficiency

• Assessments of needs for remote technologies and Shelter modeling

• Collaborations with national and international centers of excellence and National Lab Network in U.S.

• Language Laboratory to train/teach ChNPP & Center workers

Chornobyl Centerfor Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

8IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

Socio-Economic Benefits in Slavutych• Source of: re-employment for plant workers, tax

revenue, new technology ventures, and international collaborations

• Sponsors business exchanges– Sergei Chesnokov, Chairman, Slavutych Providers Association,

and President of Perspectiva, and Mayor Udovichenko visited Washington, D.C. and Richland, Washington

– Videoconferencing with Hanford entrepreneurs– Management training– Technology Commercialization Workshop (Oct. 1998)

• Provides community access– Student teacher videoconferencing– Economic development through videoconferencing– Students access to Internet (joining GLOBE network)– Computers for Slavutych schools

• Sponsors education exchange between Slavutych, Ukraine and Richland, Washington

Chornobyl Centerfor Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology

U.S. Department of EnergyPacific Northwest National Laboratory

9IG9808010 B.Armed Services Committee

ChNPP Shutdown and Deactivation

Heat Plant• must be in full operation by

2000 when Unit 3 shuts down

• will keep reactor coolant from freezing and breaking pipes until fuel is unloaded

• will be used for decontamination and decommissioning and waste management projects

The uncompleted heat plant at Chornobyl nuclear power plant