The world's first OSART mission on a power unit with a fast neutron reactor was performed by a team that included specialists from the UK, France, Iran, Armenia, Belarus, Slovakia and China. The assessment took place at the request of the Government of the Russian Federation. On the Russian side, more than 300 people representing the Beloyarsk NPP, Rosenergoatom, Uralatomenergoremont and BAES-Avto, as well as observers from the Novovoronezh NPP and the Akkuyu NPP, took part in the inspection. 

For three weeks, the Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) assessed the reliability of the nuclear power plant and the performance of its personnel in accordance with IAEA requirements. An independent view is necessary to further improve the safety of power unit No. 4 of the Beloyarsk NPP. 

“For the first time in history, the IAEA OSART mission was performed at a power unit with a fast neutron reactor - BN-800. It is a great honor and responsibility for Beloyarsk NPP to represent the “fast” topic, in which Russia is a recognized world leader. We coped with this task with dignity, provided the experts with all the necessary information, the experts and counter-partners worked actively for three weeks, conducted dozens of rounds, interviews, observations, and reviewed documents in all areas of the inspection. We highly appreciate the professional opinion of the mission experts and are ready to adopt experience that will help improve the safety level of the Beloyarsk NPP,” said Ivan Sidorov, director of the Beloyarsk NPP. 

During the mission, the experts inspected the turbine room, the central hall, the block and reserve control center, the block-pumping station of power unit No. 4, together with the employees, they made rounds along the routes of the electricians on duty and the operators of the reactor and turbine department, observed the implementation of scheduled switchings, and briefings in the central hall and permission to repair equipment, studied technical regulations and documents. 

“Based on the results, we can note that the Beloyarsk NPP is very close to the ideal image of the safest nuclear power plant, because the nuclear plant employees are dedicated, knowledgeable and professional. You have done a huge amount of work analyzing and identifying possible risks. A fruitful exchange of technical experience and knowledge took place between experts and specialists of the nuclear power plant on how to further effectively contribute to achieving the common goal of increasing reliability. I will leave with the full feeling that this is a completely safe nuclear power plant,” concluded OSART team leader Morgan Simon.  

After the inspection, the OSART commission presented a draft final report to the management of the nuclear power plant. The final report will be approved at the IAEA head office in Vienna within three weeks and will be sent to the government of the Russian Federation within three months.