Conference on Safety and Efficiency of Nuclear Energy Held in Odessa

From 4 to 6 of September, the 6th International Scientific and Practical Conference “Safety and Efficiency of Nuclear Energy” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Odessa National Polytechnic University (ONPU) was held in Odesa. The event was organized the Energoatom Company and ONPU under support of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU).

In addition to representatives of host enterprises, the event was attended by experts of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”, Scientific-Technical Complex “Nuclear Fuel Cycle”, World Association of Nuclear Operators, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), ÚJV Řež a.s. (Nuclear Research Institute) and a number of other organizations.

Directors of Energoatom NPPs, Pavlo Pavlyshyn (RNPP), Volodymyr Lisnichenko (SUNPP), and Mykola Panashchenko (KhNPP), and a representative of the World Association of Nuclear Operators, Anatolii Kirichenko, joined the opening ceremony of the conference with the welcome speech.

ONPU rector Gennadii Oborskyi opened the conference: “Today nuclear industry generates almost 60% of the Ukraine’s electric power. At the same time, of course, our nuclear power plants do not become younger. Therefore, safety and efficiency issues are extremely relevant. The Polytechnic University trains various experts for Ukrainian NPPs and is concerned about the current state of energy in the country; therefore we are glad to welcome participants of this year’s conference in the Odessa University”.

The main objectives of the conference were to discuss strategic areas of developing the atomic energy complex of Ukraine, promising ways to improve nuclear technologies, increase nuclear and radiation safety, improve the development of training, retraining and skill improvement for personnel of nuclear energy enterprises in Ukraine.

Representative of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority Zlatan Delalic highlighted the importance of such an event in Ukraine. Similar events are not held in Sweden, since there is a noticeable trend to reduce the share of nuclear energy in favor of renewable sources. However, the Swedish regulator supports measures aimed at developing safety of nuclear energy use.

“At present, nuclear energy and safety of its use are important for Ukraine, because the share of electric power produced by Ukrainian NPPs is very high. This is also proved by the presence of directors and top management of the organizations related to nuclear energy. Thus, such events in Ukraine are justified”, Zlatan Delalic notes. “There is no direct interest of SSM, because our direct responsibility is the safety of Sweden. However, within the international cooperation of nuclear regulators, including bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Sweden, development and increase of nuclear safety in Ukraine is important to us”.

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The majority of fifty reports presented at the conference concerned practical development, research and its results, which would contribute to safety and efficiency increase of nuclear energy in Ukraine.

Uatom.org Editorial Board