Interregional Training Course on Establishing a National Position for a New NPP completed in Saint Petersburg

On 20-24 June the Saint Petersburg branch of Rosatom Technical Academy (RosatomTech) hosted the Interregional Training Course on Establishing a National Position for a New NPP. The event involved 16 participants from 11 countries: Tunisia, Uganda, Morocco, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Senegal and Thailand. Training course was conducted within the framework of the Agreement between ROSATOM and IAEA concerning Extra budgetary Contribution to the implementation of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects on nuclear infrastructure development in newcomer countries. The course was intended to help Member States develop a more focused understanding of the requirements, pre-requisites, and other legal, financial, and managerial obligations, which are associated with establishing a national position to support the decision to embark on a nuclear power programme based on the IAEA’s Milestones Approach. Within the framework of the training course participants also had a chance to present their views of nuclear infrastructure development in their countries. The participants were welcomed by Mr Jing Zhang, Section Head of Division for Europe, Department of Technical Cooperation IAEA and Mr Victor Mazepov, Director of Centre for International Cooperation, Rosatom Tech. The major topics of the course were presented by Mr John Hadad, the IAEA Scientific Secretary, including the IAEA Milestone approach, roles and responsibilities of key organizations, environmental requirements for NPP and others. Among Russian speakers there were the representatives of Rosatom Headquarters Dr Vladimir Artisyuk and Ms Daria Savchenko. Dr Artisyuk presented the SMR Technology and its benefits, as SMRs are more affordable to build and have a chance to be deployed rapidly on large scale to meet the challenge of global climate change. Ms Savchenko shared the Russian experience in developing legal framework for bilateral cooperation with countries which are the recipients of Russian nuclear technologies putting the stress on basic document embodied in Intergoverment agreement on the cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. As a part of their practical study, the participants had a virtual tour to Leningrad NPP. Ms Maria Nevretdinova, Chief Expert, Central Office the JSC Concern Rosenergoatom introduced the NPP operation principles and its role in the social and economic development of the region. Participants learned even more about the subject from Mr Mikhail Serebryakov, Head of Simulator Training Group, Rosatom Tech during practical exercise at the Full-Scope Simulator of the Novovoronezh NPP which is located at Saint Petersburg branch of Rosatom Tech. It was also explained how the NPP operating personnel are trained to act in emergency situations. For reference: The “National position” is one of the 19 nuclear infrastructure issues to be resolved in accordance to the IAEA Milestone approach. The Interregional Training Course on Establishing a National Position for a New NPP is traditionally held in Russia at the site of Rosatom Technical Academy: the previous one was conducted on 23-27 September 2019 in Moscow branch of Rosatom Tech