Speaker: Kristen Suokko; Associate Director for International Programs; Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; U.S. Department of Energy

Since the last Contractor Information Exchange in May 1996, significant progress has been made in several areas. Three additional nuclear power plants have joined U.S. partners in cooperative work to improve safety. The Armenia Nuclear Power Station has projects under way in fire safety. Two plants in Russia--Bilibino and Beloyarsk--are receiving support in training methods and a simulator.

Several new projects have begun since May. Technology transfer is under way for plants in Russia and Lithuania for key safety equipment, including an emergency power supply, instrument control modules, circuit breakers, and valves. Safety parameter display systems are being developed for 13 reactors in Russia and Ukraine. These systems enable operators to view quickly the status of reactor conditions for controlling plants in the event of an accident. Configuration management systems are being developed for the Novovoronezh and Balakovo plants in Russia and the Zaporizhzhya plant in Ukraine. Such systems provide important information for identifying safe operating boundaries within the plant's current configuration. Plant-specific, in-depth safety assessments are under way for reactors at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyy plants and at Russia's Kursk plant. Such safety assessments are necessary for identifying the most significant risks so that limited resources can be applied effectively.

The United States is supporting Russia in eliminating plutonium production at its three remaining production reactors. The U.S. policy goal is to stop Russian plutonium production by 2000. The United States and Russia have determined that it is feasible to convert the cores of the existing reactors to an alternative fuel design that would not produce weapons-grade plutonium. In January 1996, Vice President Gore and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin agreed to support recommendations of the feasibility study and proceed with design and analyses. Core design, analysis, and testing are scheduled to be completed by September 1997.

An in-country presence is critical to coordinating the cooperative safety work. The U.S. Department of Energy saw so much value in the Moscow Adjunct Office that it opened a similar office in Kyiv, Ukraine, in February 1997. Alex Sich of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory staffs that office. His role is to coordinate and help implement U.S. nuclear safety activities in Ukraine, integrate cross-cutting technologies, and communicate U.S. nuclear safety goals and work status with officials and industry representatives in Ukraine. Alex's E-mail address is alexsich@carrier.kiev.ua.

The Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology is moving forward with technical projects. This center was established in 1996 in Slavutych, Ukraine, near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. The United States is supporting the infrastructure development of this scientific and technical center as a focal point for addressing nuclear safety and environmental issues. Last October, a satellite-based telecommunications system was installed to facilitate cooperative work and sharing of data.

The United States is working with Ukraine and other nations in support of activities to resolve safety issues associated with the shelter surrounding the damaged Chornobyl reactor Unit 4. Short-term activities focus on reducing risks inside the shelter caused by high radiation fields and deteriorating conditions. Longer-term activities focus on stabilizing the shelter structure.

An initiative is under way with Ukraine to demonstrate ways to stabilize that country's energy sector. Energy Secretary O'Leary began working more than a year ago to identify opportunities for private sector investment. Such investments support U.S. interests by increasing Ukraine's energy independence, enabling the United States to reduce its economic support over time, and increasing the likelihood of the shutdown of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant by 2000. To date, two pilot energy projects have been identified: a chemical plant and an iron and steel plant. Plans for seeking private investment in these plants are going forward.

In FY 1996, the Government Accounting Office audited the U.S. Department of Energy's work to improve the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants. The U.S. Department of Energy gave its response to the audit report in February 1997. Many of the issues the Government Accounting Office identified arose because of the relatively early timing of the audit and since have been corrected. A key issue was the lack of a definitive strategy for the effort--in other words, how do we see the activities ending, and how do we know the work has accomplished its objectives? A strategy and vision since have been developed, indicating that the work ends in 2003. Funding is dependent on time-phased needs in those years.

Incoming Energy Secretary Federico Peņa has been briefed on the U.S. Department of Energy's nuclear safety work. Indications are that international nuclear safety will remain a strong priority. Recently, he has taken a personal interest in meeting with high-ranking nuclear safety officials from Russia and Ukraine who were visiting the United States.

The Gore/Chernomyrdin Commission recently finished its eighth session. Led by U.S. Vice President Gore and Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, the Commission meets regularly to discuss issues of mutual importance. Part of the discussion pertained to the Russian energy sector and nuclear safety. A top priority in the coming years will be the disposition of nuclear materials. The U.S. dual-track approach was discussed, which comprises burning plutonium in reactors and immobilizing it. Another issue for the future is the transition of the Russian nuclear complex. In the area of nuclear safety, the most significant issue was the potential restart of the Kursk reactor Unit 1.

Similar to the Gore/Chernomyrdin Commission, a comparable bilateral commission recently was established with Ukraine. The Energy Working Group of this Commission focuses on strengthening Ukraine's energy sector. A new nuclear utility in Ukraine, Energoatom (officially known as UkrAtomEnergo), has been formed. This utility potentially could obtain loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international lenders for such projects as the completion of two unfinished reactors at Rivne and Zaporizhzhya. It is unclear at this point what role the utility will have in terms of the Ukraine's nuclear power plants.