WENRA Working Visit to SNRIU

On 18 April 2018, the representatives of the Western European Regulators` Association (WENRA) visited the SNRIU in the framework of the working meeting devoted to the development of the safety reference levels for research reactors.

Mr. Borys Stoliarchuk, Director of the SNRIU Department on Nuclear Installation Safety, opened this meeting. He briefly described the situation with Ukrainian research nuclear facilities. “Currently we have one operable research reactor of Kyiv Nuclear Research Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Another Neutron Source based on subcritical assembly driven by a linear electron accelerator of Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology is at the stage of construction and commissioning. Unfortunately, the SNRIU lost the regulatory control of DR-1000 research reactor of Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Industry in 2014 after the annexation of the Crimea”.   

Mr. Stoliarchuk mentioned that the SNRIU participates actively in implementation of the international projects that allow to harmonize national legislation on nuclear and radiation safety in compliance with EU standards, considering WENRA safety reference levels.   

“As for the harmonization of the requirements for nuclear power plants – the process started long time ago and is successfully implemented. Currently we have to harmonize the national requirements for research reactors”, – mentioned the SNRIU representative.

As a result of this meeting the participants have to develop the international document that shall clearly define the safety reference levels for research reactors of all WENRA member-states. The draft shall be submitted to the IAEA for consideration not later than October 2019.

For reference: on 26 March 2015 Ukraine become a full WENRA member.

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