On February 20, 2018, the WANO expert team has completed their work at the Novovoronezh NPP as a part of their follow-up pre-launch partnership verification visit to check if the 7th power block (the 2nd power block of the Novovoronezh NPP-2) is ready for the physical start-up.

The pre-launch partnership verification took place in December 2018. Apart from verifying if the 7th power block was ready for the physical start-up, the team also focused on maximizing the reliability and the safety of its operation as well as on facilitating knowledge exchange with regard to the global best practices.

The follow-up visiting team was made of three international experts from the Moscow and the Hong Kong offices of the WANO*.

During the verification process, the experts examined the way the remedial actions formulated during their visit in December are being implemented, held some interviews and observed the way the staff works at the 1st and the 2nd power blocks of the Novovoronezh NPP-2. They also took a tour around the premises and the system equipment critical for the safety of the NPP, reviewed the containment systems and equipment and many more.

‘Based on the observations, interviews and review of the remedial actions during the follow-up visit, the WANO team hasn’t identified any inconsistencies that could prevent a safe launched of the 2nd power block of the Novovoronezh NPP-2. The NPP staff will have to carry on with coordinating and controlling their activities on the operational improvement and the enhancement of safety at the Novovoronezh NPP’, Alexander Rybchuk, the head of the partnership verification, the CEO of the Atomprojectengineering Department, a part of the State Enterprise National Nuclear Energy Generating Company "Energoatom", noted during the final meeting.

The closing meeting to hand over the final version of the report on the Pre-launch Partnership Verification to the management team of the operating organization is scheduled for March 1, 2019.