November 14 – National space bridge dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the creation of the team for assistance to nuclear power plants in emergency situations or radiation hazards (OPAS) was held under the guidance of General Director of the Concern Rosenergoatom, Yevgeniy Romanov. Managers of the Central Office of Rosenergoatom Concern, technical support centres, Crisis Management Centre of Rosatom State-owned Corporation and nuclear power plants, including Balakovo NPP, participated in the space bridge.

“If originally OPAS was created as a team for preventing of all kinds of dangerous situations, then after the “Fukushima” lessons we reached a new understanding: the case of the beyond-design-basis accident required effective and competent situation management. In this sense, OPAS team is a good tool, which allows the operating personnel to make the right decisions. But, as the saying runs, God forbid to apply this experience and knowledge in practice,” said General Director Yevgeniy Romanov in his opening speech. 



The inter-agency team for assistance to nuclear power plants in the events of emergency situations and radiation hazards was created on November 13, 1987. For 25 years, members of OPAS repeatedly participated in the plant’s events related to abnormal and emergency situations, and together with the plant’s personnel minimized their impacts.

In his speech, the chief engineer of Balakovo nuclear power plant stressed the importance of cooperation of OPAS team with nuclear power plants. “The interaction of the team with Balakovo NPP is carried out year over year in the integrated trainings and emergency response exercises of the plant’s personnel, based on the most severe scenario of emergency situations. And it is no coincidence. The events at Fukushima NPP once again made us rethink the approaches for ensuring the plant’s safe operation. We face new challenges in preparing the plant to respond to external and internal influences. I’m sure that the vast experience of OPAS team members will allow us to solve these tasks in short terms,” stressed Valery Bessonov.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the team for assistance to nuclear power plants in emergency situations or radiation hazards, a number of its members received memorial signs “25 Years of OPAS” for the long-term service and personal contribution to the nuclear power plants’ safety. Among the awarded was Viktor Ignatov, Balakovo NPP Director, Valery Bessonov, Chief Engineer of the plant, and Alexander Krasnov, Head of the Department of Mobilization Training, Civil Defense and Emergency Situations of Emergency Centres.