On April 22, 2011 a public inspection, which engaged Deputies of Voronezh region Duma, members of the Public Chamber of Voronezh region and journalists, was held at Novovoronezh NPP.

When meeting the parliamentarians, Director of the nuclear power plant Vladimir Povarov reported that the NPP was operated in the standard mode: power units Nos. 3 and 4 were in operation, power unit No.5 – under reconstruction and modernization and power units Nos. 1 and 2 – on the stage of decommissioning. The radiation background corresponds to the normal operation of power units and does not exceed the natural background values.

The public inspection participants visited facilities that ensure safe operation of the nuclear power plant, in particular – the turbine island, unit control room (UCR) of power units, they also examined the working conditions of plant operating personnel and inspected the sites of mobile pumping pant connection to the reactor compartment premise of power units Nos. 3 and 4 as well as a mobile diesel-generator plant.

Chairman of the Committee on Ecological Policy and Environment Protection of Voronezh region Public Chamber Viktoria Labzukova, which had visited the operating NPP for the first time, noted: “This visit is useful for the Public Chamber: we’ve got a lot of information about plant safety. We will hold an explanatory work, of course, with the help of specialists.”

According to Chairman of Voronezh region Duma Vladimir Klyuchnikov, an industrial person, living in a contemporary society should be psychologically ready for the fact that atom, as a type of energy, will be forever. “Another question is safety assurance,” Vladimir Klyuchnikov said. “This is the objective of nuclear scientists. As a regional political leader, who holds information, I know that we do not have any danger, which could influence human health. Competent and responsible personnel work in this field. I am sure in reliable operation of Novovoronezh plant. I believe that today the most important thing is to be open and communicate with people – as lack of openness gives birth to rumors. One of the objectives of today’s campaign is to assure ourselves and other people in Novovoronezh NPP safety.”

At present, public inspections are being held at all operating nuclear power plants of the Russian Federation (branches of Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC). They are organized at the initiative of Rosatom State Corporation in order to demonstrate public and mass media representatives a high level of safety and reliability systems of Russian modern power units.