From June 30 to July 1, 2021, at the Novovoronezh NPP (a branch of Rosenergoatom, part of the Electric Power Division of Rosatom), annual comprehensive emergency response drills (ERD) took place.

More than 600 people took part in the exercises inclduing workers and managers of the nuclear power plant, experts of the nuclear power plant emergency response team (NPPER*) of Rosenergoatom and Rosatom's crisis centers, divisions of the Emergencies Ministry, representatives of the FMBA of Russia, supporting institutes and research centers, and authorities. There were about 20 organizations in total.

Drills were held simultaneously at two sites – in Moscow, in the Rosenergoatom Crisis Center** and directly on the territory of the Novovoronezh NPP.

The operating personnel of the nuclear power plant practiced on full-scale simulators that allow simulating any crisis situation at the nuclear power plant. This time, according to the scenario of the drills, due to a strong earthquake in the central part of Russia, all power units were stopped and the power supply of the Novovoronezh NPP was lost, huge blockages formed on the industrial site, and part of the critically important equipment of the nuclear power plant was damaged.

On the first day of the exercises, the plant staff deployed mobile anti-emergency special equipment, including mobile diesel generator and pumping systems, carried out radiation reconnaissance and ensured the evacuation of employees. An injured

found during the emergency training was provided with first aid and transported to the hospital.

On the second day of the drills, fire emergency response unit No. 14, providing protection for the Novovoronezh NPP, practiced skills in extinguishing various types of fires within the framework of the exercise scenario. Experts from the Novovoronezh branch of the Rosatom Emergency Center (JSC Rosatom EC) demonstrated the capabilities of modern equipment, including robotic systems, for eliminating the consequences of man-made accidents.

The General Director of Rosenergoatom Andrey Petrov gave a positive assessment to the drills and noted the high level of training of the ERD participants and the interaction of all services and departments.

“Rosenergoatom, performing the functions of the operating organization, has the overall responsibility for ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants at all stages of their life: from design to decommissioning. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure the safety of objects in the mode of deviation from normal operation. To do that, every year we conduct comprehensive emergency response drills at one of the nuclear power plants, checking the level of interaction, readiness to manage accidents in difficult situations,” said Andrey Petrov.

In turn, the director of the Novovoronezh NPP Vladimir Povarov said:

“There are three types of reactors at the Novovoronezh NPP. During the drills, we assessed our own readiness for difficult situations, such as multiple failures on several types of units. All issues of interaction have been practiced, which demonstrates a high level of emergency planning and readiness to eliminate any emergency situations.”

The remarkable thing is that comprehensive emergency response drills with an emergency visit of representatives of various services are held annually at one of the Russian nuclear power plants. At the Novovoronezh NPP, the ERD of this level were last held in 2011.

The power units of the Novovoronezh NPP were operating normally during the drills. At the moment, power unit No. 4, No. 5 and No. 7 of NV NPP are in operation. Power unit No. 6 is under scheduled preventive repair. The radiation background at the industrial site of the Novovoronezh NPP and the surrounding area did not change and corresponds to natural values.