Balakovo :	|	Operating History	|	Technical Activities	|	Accomplishments	|

Balakovo Operating History

There were reports in the Russian press in 1992 about safety-related problems, some of them serious, at the Balakovo plant.

In February 1992, Russian authorities stated their intentions to complete an additional unit at Balakovo. Work began in 1984 and Balakovo 4 was commissioned in May 1993 and began commercial operation in December 1993. It was the first unit to be completed under Russia's 20-year nuclear construction plan announced in 1992 and the first unit to go on line since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted ASSET safety assessments in 1992 and 1994 of the Balakovo plant. (ASSET stands for Assessment of Safety Significant Event Teams. ASSET reviews operational safety from the standpoint of events that have occurred.) During the latter visit, the IAEA team noted that Balakovo staff had made considerable progress in areas that previously drew recommendations for improvement. The team also identified five pending safety issues:

• potential for radioactive release during fuel-handling because of field operator errors
• lack of reliable safety systems because of inadequate maintenance procedures and nonproficient personnel
• degradation of the "control of reactor power safety" function because of control rod insertion delays
• unreliable fire-fighting systems and reactor safety systems because of electronic component failures.

Source: Source Book: Soviet-Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukrane, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria, 4th edition. Nuclear Energy Institute. 1996. (online)

Balakovo :	|	Operating History	|	Technical Activities	|	Accomplishments	|