16.06.2011
On May 30-31 in Hanoi JSC Atomstroyexport (ASE JSC), a company of State Corporation Rosatom, with the support of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute holds the scientific and technical seminar “Russian NPP designs – high reliability and safety”. The seminar is participated by approximately 40 institutes and organizations representing Vietnam power engineering. The Russian delegation is represented by leading organizations of the country’s nuclear industry: besides JSC Atomstroyexport, the general contractor for construction of Ninthuan-1 NPP, there are OJSC SPbAEP, OJSC OKB Gidropress, SRC Kurchatov Institute, OJSC Rosenergoatom and OJSC VNIIAES.
The opening address for the participants of the seminar was made by Deputy Director of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute Mr. Tuan. Having noted that the safety issues are of primary importance during construction and operation of nuclear plants, Mr. Tuan expressed confidence that the seminar arranged by JSC Atomstroyexport would allow Vietnam specialists to understand in more detail the advantages of Russian NPP design safety systems.
- Similar open dialogues promote the development of interaction between Russia and Vietnam in the sphere of nuclear technologies, - said Leonid Yanko. – Presentation for Vietnam colleagues of maximally complete information regarding the technologies for ensuring safety and reliability of Russian NPPs is the primary objective of our meeting.
The seminar was addressed by the specialists of JSC Atomstroyexport, OJSC SPbAEP, OJSC OKB Gidropress and OJSC VNIIAES. The report of JSC Atomstroyexport was devoted to the experience of Russian specialists in construction of nuclear plants abroad. “The truth criterion is practice”, - this principle enunciated in the socialistic ideology is also determinative in the market economy. Russian atomic specialists constructed 66 NPP power units with water-cooled water-moderated reactor plants, including those abroad. Approximately 1400 reactor-years of successful operation – this is the experience in operation of this reactor type. Thus, Loviisa NPP (Finland) constructed with assistance of Russian specialists remains one of the safest operating nuclear plants in Europe. Tianwan NPP (PRC) constructed and commissioned by JSC Atomstroyexport is officially acknowledged as the safest nuclear plant in China. Besides, TNPP is the first in the world operating nuclear plant of new generation, and this reference is a strong competitive advantage of Russia.
The information regarding the evolution of VVER type reactors, development of systems for control of beyond the design basis accidents, active and passive systems of Russian design NPPs was reported to Vietnam colleagues by representatives of OJSC SPbAEP and OJSC OKB Gigropress. The effectiveness of solutions involved in Russian NPP construction designs is proved by international practice: according to WANO statistics, in 2001-2010 the number of unscheduled reactor shutdowns at Russian NPPs was significantly lower than worldwide indicators.
Summing up the results of the seminar work, the participants pointed out high effectiveness of the dialogue held. The Vietnamese specialists could receive answers for their questions regarding safety systems of Russian NPP design. And Russian side, while analyzing and answering the questions of Vietnamese partners, additionally detailed the withes of Vietnam customer regarding safety and effectiveness of the future NPP Ninthuan-1 – the first NPP of Vietnam to be constructed according to Russian technologies.
Reference:
On October 31, 2010 during the visit of RF president Dmitry Medvedev to Hanoi there was signed an intergovernmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam concerning cooperation in construction of the NPP Ninthuan-1. The general contractor for construction of the nuclear power plant is JSC Atomstroyexport. Two-units nuclear power plant Ninthuan-1 will be constructed under the NPP design of new generation with account of Russian and international safety standards and IAEA recommendations.
