News – Joint Support Office in Kyiv, Ukraine

Meeting of the Ukrainian Supervisory Board for INSC

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

The purpose of the meeting was to establish an aligned understanding of ongoing activities under the INSC, to provide an update on the INSC funded activities to be implemented in support of the ChEZ and to facilitate direct communication between the Ukrainian Partners and EC regarding urgent and future needs.

7th International Conference on Nuclear Decommissioning and Environmental Recovery INUDECO 2022

Thursday, 28 April 2022

The event is annual, but this time the theme of INUDECO 2022 was “Challenges of Ukraine’s nuclear energy in wartime.” The scientific and professional community, as well as international nuclear organisations, analysed the experience of the war in Ukraine, made the first conclusions about the consequences of nuclear terrorism, discussed possible recommendations for the operation of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities in the wartime. There were 168 participants, 35 institutions from 20 countries, 64 reports, 15 hours of continuous work online.

The following main topics were discussed:

Security and safety of nuclear industry facility during wartime.
Reaction of international organisations to the attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.
Coordination of international donors’ support in the restoration of the damaged nuclear facilities. This is a very important and urgent task, since without such coordination support in some areas may be duplicated while others may be overlooked.

This event being a scientific conference, a large number of scientific reports were made.

In general, the conference was a very useful forum for discussion of open issues and exchange of opinions between highly qualified scientists, engineers and managers concerning the mitigation of consequences of the Fukushima and Chornobyl accidents and new challenges of the wartime. It is worth noting, that the conference was held in Slavutych, the Chornobyl NPP satellite town, which had been completely isolated from the very beginning of the Russian invasion, suffered a humanitarian crisis and temporary Russian occupation. The Armed Forces of Ukraine entered Slavutych on the 3rd of April.

Meeting of the Task Force for the RAW Management, Decommissioning and Remediation Sector

Tuesday, 9 February 2022

The meeting was attended by high-level representatives of Unit F1 Climate change and Sustainable energy: Nuclear safety of the European Commission Directorate General International partnership; Directorate General Joint research Centre; European Union Delegation to Ukraine, European Commission Joint Support Office, Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, SSSE Chornobyl NPP, SSE Association Radon, SSE Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise, SSE Ecocentre and SE National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom. In total, over 45 experts of the above organisations took part in the on-line meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to overview the progress of the current European Commission’s cooperation programme in Ukraine – Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC), to establish common understanding of future activities and strategy in respect of the projects to be identified under the INSC for 2020-2027.

The meeting attendees held a detailed discussion of the following principal issues:

Results of the completed projects;
Status of and outstanding issues in the key projects under implementation;
Status and planning of activities under Action Programmes 2019-2022;
Status of the Programme Strategic Roadmap of the RAW Sector.

State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management pointed out positive results of implementation of numerous projects funded by the European Union, which had been instrumental to the establishment of important elements of the radioactive waste management infrastructure in Ukraine and expressed their gratitude to the European Commission for the sustainable support in implementation the highest nuclear and radiation safety standards in Ukraine.

Based on the discussion, the attendees outlined next steps in planning the future cooperation which should be based on co-financing.

EU support to remediation of the former Pridniprovskyi Chemical Plant (PChP) enters its third phase

Thursday, 2 December 2021

Given the widespread distribution of radioactively contaminated materials around the PChP site, on which are located several state and private enterprises and around 600 workers, the Partners launched a project to improve safety at the site for both the public and environment. The project results will also ensure safe conditions for future remediation activities. That work, which will be completed in November 2021, has seen the establishment of five radiation-controlled areas within the site, the sealing of two highly contaminated buildings, and finalised a design solution for the collection and temporary storage of radioactive materials from around site, within one of the radiation-controlled areas. At a total cost of €3.5 million, the project has also supported the strengthening of Ukraine’s legal and regulatory framework, for the safe management of Uranium Legacy sites.

In September 2021, the European Commission signed a Contribution Agreement, committing a further €5.7 million to support several priority actions required to support initial remediation activities at the PChP site. The Project foresees the establishment of a Radioactive Materials Management Plan, which will be based on the 2016 Remediation Strategy Document and define the priority activities to be implemented. The Project also foresees the establishment of interim safe storage and final disposal for radioactive materials located at the site, together with further strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework for Uranium Legacy Sites in Ukraine.”

Press release

This video was produced with the financial support of the European Union. The STCU is fully responsible for its content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

EU supports the long-term safe management of radioactive wastes in Ukraine”

Monday, 18 October 2021

Specification of waste forms to allow safe treatment, storage and disposal of problematic radioactive wastes held at Ukrainian nuclear energy facilities (U4.01/14A);
Comprehensive safety assessment of RAW management sites operated by State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association “Radon” and design of remediation for specific problematic facilities (U4.01/14C).

The Projects were performed by experts from PLEJADES GmbH, Brenk Systemplanung GmbH, NUKEM Technologies Engineering Services GmbH, DMT GmbH & Co KG from Germany, together with Ukratominstruments Corporation Ltd and LLC “Analytical Research Bureau for NPP Safety” from Ukraine. The experts worked in close cooperation with colleagues from the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, NNEGC Energoatom and SSE Association Radon.

Press release

Safety assessment training for experts of the State Specialised Enterprise “Radon Association”

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Implementation of the INSC project on Safety Assessment of the State Specialised Enterprise “Radon Association” continues in Ukraine. In the framework of the project Task 4, the final part the Safety Assessment Training took place on 14 – 16 September 2021 (the first two parts were held in March 2021). The training was organised in Kyiv with some participants joining via Video Conference. 13 participants from all Radon’s affiliates took part. The training was followed with an exam, and those participants who passed it successfully, were issued a Certificate of Achievement.

Kick-off meeting for project U4.01/18A - Establishment of an appropriate Programme Management Infrastructure inside the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management

Tuesday, 7 September 2021

Objective of this project is to establish a sustainable Programme Management Infrastructure that is based on international best practice and one that can evolve in accordance with developing needs, to support the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone, together with its subordinated organisations, in discharging their respective duties in the field of radioactive waste management.

The purposes of the Kick-off meeting were:

To introduce the Project Steering Committee (PSC), Project Working Group (PWG) and Project Team, and to establish working relations
To discuss and agree the overall methodology, work plan, schedule, quality arrangements, as well as other issues important for implementation of the project, as defined by the draft Inception Report, Quality Assurance Plan and relevant annexes
To agree next steps and initiate relevant project implementation activities

The meeting was attended by representatives of the EC, JRC, JSO, SAUEZM, CRWME, Radon, ChNPP, Ecocentre and Contractor.

The Contractor presented project objectives, their team of experts, project scope of work, schedule and work plan. Participants of the meeting formed the PSC, PWG, Project Team, discussed and agreed principal requirements toward implementation of this project. The Contractor presented also their initial developments in the framework of project task 2 – gap analysis.

All meeting participants agreed that the meeting triggered successful commencement of the project. Both the Beneficiary and End Users confirmed the high importance of this project for future improved implementation of RAW Management Programme in Ukraine.

EU to help State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management establish World Class Programme and Project Management Infrastructure

Monday, 9 August 2021

In June 2021, in partnership with the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZM), the European Commission launched a project to create a reliable and sustainable programme management infrastructure for the management of hundreds of projects planned to be implemented in the period up to 2060 or longer in the framework of the National Strategy for the Management of Radioactive Waste.

The project is funded under the EU Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) with a financial contribution of circa EUR 2 million.

Press release

Final meeting in the framework of project U3.01/14+15+18 “Strengthening of State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) capabilities relevant for the regulation of nuclear activities and in licensing and severe accident management of Nuclear Installations”

Thursday, 10 June 2021

Component A “Strengthening of SNRIU capabilities in licensing of new nuclear installations (except NPPs)” (Project UK/TS/51);
Component B “Assistance to SNRIU in enhancing and ensuring robustness of models for severe accident analysis based on EU up-to-date experience and Fukushima Daiichi lessons” (Project UK/TS/52);
Component C “Strengthening and alignment of Ukrainian nuclear safety regulations in line with the EU experience, best practice and EURATOM Acquis” (Project UK/TS/53);
Component D “Strengthening of Ukrainian nuclear safety regulatory capabilities in the external hazard assessment area” (Project UK/TS/54).

Final meetings for these components were held by videoconference on 10 June 2021.

Improvement of Environmental Radiation Monitoring and Dosimetric Control in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

The Project which has an EU financial contribution of €4.2M foresees the upgrade of the environmental radiation monitoring system at the Vector Complex and Buriakivka disposal facility, as well as the establishment of an up to date dosimetric control system within the Exclusion Zone.

The project, which is funded through the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation will be implemented in two phases: phase 1 will produce the necessary system designs, which is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2022, whilst phase 2 foresees the supply and installation of the necessary equipment.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Beneficiary, State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone management and three End User organizations, Chornobyl NPP, Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise and “Ecocentre”.

Press release

Film about Incinerator

Thursday, 15 April 2021

The accident, its aftermath and the subsequent international efforts to improve safety at the plant, clean-up hazards resulting from the accident and prepare for the decommissioning of the now shut down remaining reactors is well documented. And, theories about what happened and why, have recently been portrayed in a television dramatization, which received international acclaim.

Less well known are the effects on the surrounding environment and wildlife living in the 30 km exclusion zone, which was established immediately following the accident 34 years ago. The territory of the exclusion zone is unevenly polluted with spots of hyper-intensive pollution being initially created by the weather spreading radioactive dust at the time of the accident. Further contamination resulted from the numerous sites where various materials resulting from the accident, as well as equipment used to fight its effects, were hurriedly buried.

Despite these high levels of radioactive pollution and because of the restriction on humans re-populating the area, natural wildlife has thrived over the years in what has become an unnaturally created nature reserve. Over and above the many different species of flora and fauna, the Exclusion Zone is now home to wild boar, beaver, elk, rare Przewalski’s horses, wolves, the European lynx, the European bison and Bears. The restriction on human intervention with there no longer being grazing of domestic animals has led to changes in the vegetation. Wind-blown seeds have taken root and grown undisturbed, with meadows becoming overgrown with arboreal vegetation. Over 40 % of grassland has now become woodland with Scot’s pine, oak and birch trees growing freely.

These new woodlands together with the existing forest creates an unseen hazard, saplings, broken branches, fallen trees, leaves and similar brushwood will in the drier seasons become a tinderbox that can easily catch fire and spread through the forests. Alongside these potential fires, destruction of forests and risk of spreading radiological hazards through air bourn radionuclides is extremely high. Whilst the zone experiences such fires annually, until recently, they have mainly been concentrated in large areas of grass land and bushes, with limited effect on more mature trees. Fortunately however, whilst these fires do release large quantities of radionuclides, they have remained localised to the Exclusion Zone, with radiation levels around other part of the zone remaining below control levels. However, the danger of such fires getting out of control and high levels of radioactive pollution being distributed further afield, has increased in recent years due to significant climate change. For example, in April 2020, following an extremely mild and dry winter season, forest fires raged for many days, coming extremely close to the shut-down nuclear power plant, as well as radioactive waste storage facilities. The fire also destroyed a number of trees located in the ‘Red Forest’, which over the past 34 years has grown over an area where radioactive materials were buried. Radiation monitoring during and after the fire indicated that levels of radiation within the zone remained below control levels and did not travel outside the exclusion zone in dangerous volumes, nevertheless, the risk of such an event remains high. A clear example of this danger was the large forest fires that took place during Spring 2020 in the exclusion zone.

To highlight the importance of this problem and to demonstrate one potentially effective way to alleviate the risk, the European Union together with the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management conceived, designed constructed and commissioned a pilot incinerator in the town of Chornobyl.

The incinerator, which is intended to burn wood collected from clearing the forest floor, in a controlled manner thereby:

reducing the risk of forest fires as the deadwood is collected and removed;
reducing pollution as the burning is controlled and the exhaust fumes are carefully filtered to prevent radionuclides from entering the atmosphere;
providing seasonal employment clearing the forests; and
producing heat for the local town in a sustainable way.

A suitable building was found to house the incinerator and some modifications made to the structure prior to the installation of the incinerator. Once the building was ready the incinerator was installed.

Wood, bark and branches subject to disposal are taken to the facility, turned into chips in a wood crusher and stored prior to burning. The chips have to have a humidity of less than 60%.

A moving bed feeding system brings the chips from the warehouse to the feeder that delivers the chips to the travelling grate furnace. The incinerator works on the basis of layered combustion using a lattice structure of the travelling grate to achieve maximum combustion efficiency and minimum amount of pollutants.

The flue gases from the wood chips are ducted to the afterburner chamber where heat exchange occurs and heat from the waste gases is used to heat water supplied to consumers in the city of Chornobyl. The city of Chornobyl is a temporary home to workers in the Zone as well as the administration buildings of the Exclusion Zone.

The flue gases are cleaned in the high efficiency multicyclone followed by activated charcoal injection after which the gases pass through the bag filter.

The use of activated charcoal improves the effectiveness of the bag filter in retaining elements such as mercury, strontium and caesium. Due to this cleaning system the dust concentration in the emissions does not exceed 5 mg/m3, which is significantly below the permissible levels of contamination under EU and Ukrainian standards. The flue gasses cleaned of harmful components and dust are released through the stack.

An automatic ash handling system removes the ash and cinder with a scraper mechanism and packs them into 210 litre drums. The design of the system prevents any release of dust and ash spillage outside the drum or from the system itself in the absence of a drum.

The entire incinerator system is fully automated, and computer controlled. There is continuous monitoring of levels of radioactive contamination of the wood chips, gas emissions and ash. There is further monitoring of gamma and beta radioactive contamination of the equipment, the incinerator house and the components of environment.

Since its commissioning in mid-2017, the pilot incineration facility works successfully and proved to be safe and environmentally friendly technology, which enables effective integration of tasks of cleaning the environment and delivering economic benefits to the society. The results of this pilot incineration facility show a good business case for the Government of Ukraine and private investors to be replicated and expanded into industrial scales.

Training for RODOS users in Ukraine

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

On 30-31 March 2021, a training for users of the Decision Support System RODOS was held in the framework of INSC project U4.01/14+15+18 “Support to the Ukrainian Regulatory Authorities”. Detailed information about this event provided by reference.

See more information

Safety assessment training for experts of State Specialised Enterprise “Radon Association”

Thursday, 26 March 2021

The training was organised via Video Conference and consisted of a theoretical study of SA methodology (17 – 18 March) and detailed implementation of the SA methodology for each Radon site (25 – 26 March).

The third part – final summary lectures and exams – is planned for June 2021. The first two parts of the training were successful with the trainees participating actively in the training sessions.

EU supports long-term planning of Ukraine’s Geological Disposal for Radioactive Waste

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Financed by the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation, over the past 30 months, Experts from the world’s most advanced deep geologic disposal programmes; Finland, France, Sweden and Germany, have worked closely with the Ukrainian Authorities in the development of “National Plan and implementation schedule for Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal in Ukraine”.

On March 24th, 2021 the project results were presented to stakeholders at an online workshop.

Press release

Urgent Safety Improvement Measures for The former Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant at Kamyanske

Tuesday, 23 March 2021

On the 23rd of March 2021, JSO met with Volodymyr Orlov, First Deputy Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration to discuss EU funded project supporting improved safety at the former Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant located in the City of Kamyanske. The project, which is implementing urgent safety measures at the site, with an EU financial contribution of €3.5 million, is scheduled for completion in November 2021. The Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration give their full support to the project.

See more information

Training in the use of software for data collection and storage in the process of establishment of a deep geological repository for radioactive waste in Ukrain

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

The training was held at the State Specialised Enterprise “Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise” in Chornobyl.

MapInfo Pro Advanced 2019, Surfer 17 Standalone – installation and training; Theoretical and practical lessons;
The organization of the data archive information on geological disposal (based on Microsoft Office Professional 2019);
The Base Map of the Exclusion Zone – problems and ways of their solution;
Group work with databases (PostreSQL / PostGIS, GeoServer). Modelling of systems of automation of accounting processes of spatial objects.

The training was delivered by key experts of the Consortium implementing the INSC Projects U4.01/14B and B1. Specialists from the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management and Central Radioactive Waste Management enterprise took part in the training.

The training was of much interest to the participants, especially practical aspects of the software utilization. The Presented and delivered software will be used by the specialists of the Central Enterprise in their work related to the design of the RAW geological disposal.

Meeting on development of a new programme-based Strategic Roadmap for the RAW Sector in Ukraine

Friday, 12 February 2021

The Strategic Roadmap (SRM) of the Sector “RAW management, decommissioning and remediation” is a planning tool which is used by the Task Force for identification and prioritisation of projects to be implemented in the framework of the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation in Ukraine (INSC). The structure and contents of the SRM, which was first developed in 2009, need improvement in order to better meet current challenges and tasks.

The meeting was attended by the European Commission, EU Delegation to Ukraine, EBRD, Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, SE NNEGC “Energoatom”, SSE “Central radioactive waste management enterprise”, SSE “Chornobyl NPP”, SSE “Ecocentre” and SSE “Radon Association”. The meeting resolved to develop the new programme-based Strategic Roadmap and to establish a working group for its development.

Workshop on public hearings in the process of RAW geological disposal designing was held in Kyiv

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Lead experts from Sweden, France and Germany shared their experience of public consultations in the process of designing radioactive waste geological disposal. The regulatory framework of Ukraine was presented by Ukrainian experts of the Consortium implementing the INSC Projects U4.01/14B and B1.

Experts from State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, Chornobyl NPP, Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management, SSE “Radon Association”, SNRIU, SE “Ukrainian Geological Company” and Treasury enterprise “Kirovheolohiya” took part in the workshop.

The workshop was of much interest to the participants; the lectures were followed by discussion of various issues related to the peculiarities of organisation and conduction of public consultations. Based on the workshop results, the Consortium experts will develop a plan of public consultations in the framework of designing the radwaste geological disposal in Ukraine.

Promoting an effective nuclear safety culture in Ukraine

Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Since 2005, the EU-funded ‘Joint Support Office’ (JSO) in Kyiv provides key support to the European Commission and its Ukrainian Partners in the management of the EU funded Nuclear Safety Programme in Ukraine. A Kick-off meeting for the new contract period (2020 to 2024) was held on 16 December 2020. The Principal Beneficiaries of the EU funded Nuclear Safety Programme are the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, and State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.

Press release

Commencement of pilot operation of a facility for material release from regulatory control

Thursday, 17 September 2020

The objective of the project was to provide the ChNPP with a facility for material release from the regulatory control as required by the Ukrainian legislation and Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. This facility enables justification of industrial recycling of the decontaminated materials released from the regulatory control.

The commencement of the pilot operation was scheduled for 29 September 2020. The duration of the pilot operation period is one year.

U7.01/19: Joint Support Office

Friday, 17 July 2020

On 17 June 2020, the ENCO was awarded a new contract for implementation of project U7.01/19 – Support to the Management of the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) in Ukraine. Effective start date of the new contract was 1st September 2020.

Exclusion Zone Fires

Thursday, 16 April 2020

The fire was stopped on 14th April. During all this period the emergency crisis team in Ukraine and the nuclear regulatory authority (SNRIU) supported by its technical support organisation (SSTC NRS) have been closely following the radiological situation in the region. Together, they have been able to perform detailed forecast calculations of the movement path of potentially contaminated clouds along the northern borders of Ukraine by using the RODOS Decision Support System and associate monitoring stations.

This RODOS system has been developed in Europe and provided by the European Commission to Ukraine in the frame of its nuclear safety assistance programmes. The European Union is a long standing partner of the Ukrainian authorities in addressing the consequences of the Chernobyl accident that destroyed the nuclear reactor 4 in 1986. In that frame, the European Commission has provided the monitoring equipment, the necessary software and training that Ukraine is routinely using to assess the radiological situation in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl and the whole country. This system is connected to the European radiological monitoring system sharing real time information between the participating countries.

People can follow the situation based on the on-line results using the EU transferred capacity on the website: https://sstc.ua/news

The RODOS system, which has been developed in the past by using EC R&D funding, has been subsequently successfully implemented in several non EU countries through European Commission nuclear safety assistance programmes (as

U4.01/12E: EU helping Ukraine to improve radioactive waste management training

Thursday, 12 December 2019

The European Union project: “Improvement of national personnel training system in the field of radioactive waste management, decommissioning and remediation” has produced the training materials on radioactive waste management for Ukrainian training centres in Kyiv and Slavutych. These materials are expected to enhance the skills of personnel handling dangerous materials and thereby to strengthen the protection of population and environment from radiological hazards. This was announced at the Project Dissemination Workshop in Slavutych on December 12, 2019.

The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Training Centre and Ukrainian Radiological Training Centre now possess training modules of highest international standards and well-prepared instructors to underpin both existing and future training programs and practical exercises. Such training will greatly enhance the ability of this staff to plan, manage and successfully deliver future nuclear-related projects.

Press release

U4.01/12C: EU equips radioactive waste storages in Ukraine’s 5 largest cities with radiation monitoring system

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

The EU project “Integrated Automatic System for Environmental Radiation Monitoring at Specialized Enterprises of the State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association ‘Radon‘” has installed an automated system for environmental radiation monitoring at 45 radioactive waste storage facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv and Odesa. All of them are currently operated by the Radon. This system will enable monitoring and documenting of radiation conditions, and help to identify radiation hazards and respond quickly to them. This was announced at the Press Conference in Lviv on December 10, 2019.

Specialized plants of SC ‘Radon’ in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Donetsk and Odesa are situated near large regional population centres, and those of the Kyiv specialized plant are located within the Kyiv city boundaries, which makes the issue of population safety of very high priority. In additional, these plants were designed and commissioned back in Soviet era in 1960-1962, the radiation monitoring equipment was obsolete. Ukraine intends to retrieve the waste and move it to the areas where safety could be assured more reliably. Until such a complex and costly project can be accomplished, the sites should be upgraded to ensure that people and environment are well protected from ionizing radiation.

Press release

Start of the Project on Intermediate Level Waste Geological Disposal

Thursday, 26 September 2019

The European Union has allocated a further €150 000, to support Ukraine in its development of a National Plan for geological disposal of its radioactive waste. The project, which is funded through the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC), is a follow-up to an ongoing INSC project that was launched in 2018. It is motivated by the importance of the longer-term safe management of very large amounts of Intermediate Level Waste that results from the Chornobyl Catastrophe. The follow-up project will enable the development of the integrated National Plan for the establishment of Geological Disposal of Ukrainian Radioactive Waste for both High Level Waste and Intermediate Level Waste. The Kick-off meeting for the follow-up project was held in Kyiv on September 26th, 2019.

In cooperation with the SSE CERWM, the project will be implemented by a consortium of companies led by BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (Germany) in partnership with ANDRA (France) and SKB International AB (Sweden). The consortium will be supported by the Radioenvironmental Centre of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Press release

Making Chornobyl more environmentally safe – Permanent shelter ready thanks to EU and international support

Wendsday, 10 July 2019

The management of the permanent shelter placed over the burnt out nuclear unit at Chornobyl has been handed to the Ukrainian authorities during an official ceremony held today. This is an important milestone in overcoming Chornobyl’s deadly and costly legacy. It will make the site more environmentally safe, allowing the dismantling of the provisional shelter and the management of radioactive waste. The construction of the permanent shelter started in 2012 and cost €1.5 billion, with contributions from the international community. The European Commission has been a major donor to the construction of the shelter, with over €431 million.

On this occasion, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “Chornobyl will remain in our minds forever as a tragic and devastating nuclear accident, with unprecedented consequences. Today’s handover of the permanent shelter to the Ukrainian authorities turns a page in history, allowing for the safe management of the remaining radioactive materials and waste, and better protection of the environment. The EU has shown its solidarity with the people of Ukraine and with all those affected across the borders. Today’s achievement has been possible thanks to international solidarity”.

This milestone is the result of over a decade of work, since the preliminary design was approved in 2004. The international community and in particular the EU have been instrumental in overcoming the Chornobyl-related challenges since Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the G7 countries and the EU in December 1995. As a next step, the EU expects Ukraine to ensure that all the necessary organisational and financial provisions are taken to ensure the operation and maintenance of the facility.

To date, a large number of countrieshave contributed to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund, which made possible the construction of the permanent shelter. In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided €478 million of its own resources to support different projects at the Chornobyl site.

During the years, the EU has supported various Chornobyl-related projects under its bilateral program with Ukraine. Work continues on other projects related to the safe and secure storage of spent nuclear fuel, safety improvements of other nuclear power plants in the country and socio-economic projects such as the supply of medical equipment as well as the provision of equipment for the incineration of contaminated wood.

Further information on EU support to Chornobyl-related projects:
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/energy/nuclear-safety/chernobyl-feature-story_en

10th anniversary of Ukrainian Nuclear Forum Association

Thursday, 4 July 2019

The objective of the Conference was to present and discuss recent developments and trends in the Nuclear Energy sector of Ukraine and worldwide. The topics discussed at the Conference included:

Energy strategies in Ukraine and in the world;
Low-carbon development strategies;
Current and future challenges for Nuclear Energy Sector;
Inovations for operating power plants and prospective reactor technologies;
Options and world trends of Nuclear Fuel Cycle.

Approximately 170 people took part in the Conference, in particular, heads of enterprises of the nuclear power industry of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, IAEA, FORATOM, WANO, World Nuclear Association (WNA), JSO, foreign companies – partners of NNEGC Energoatom, including Westinghouse Electric, Holtec International, UJV Rez as, Urenco, Fortum, representatives of foreign embassies in Ukraine, industry experts, scientists, and mass media.

Dissemination Workshop of the Project “Support on Radioactive Waste Management at the Vektor Industrial Complex in Ukraine“

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Dissemination Workshop of the Project U4.01/11 AB “Support on Radioactive Waste Management at the Vektor Industrial Complex in Ukraine“ was held on Kyiv, 29 November 2018.

The project was implemented by Empresarios Agrupados International (Spain) in consortium with Ukrainian Company Kyiv Research and Design Institute ‘Energoproject’. The project lasted 36 months (02/12/2015 – 01/12/2018).

Press release

Dissemination Meeting for Project “Establishment of a system for monitoring technical conditions of NPP buildings and structures based on advanced methods and techniques”

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Dissemination Meeting for Project U1.05/12 “Establishment of a system for monitoring technical conditions of NPP buildings and structures based on advanced methods and techniques” was held on Tuesday 27th November 2018. The project was implemented by Empresarios Agrupados International (Spain), in consortium with EGIS Industries SAS (France) and SITIS SAS (France), with expert support from the Ukrainian Company Kyiv Research and Design Institute “Energoproject”. The project duration is 36 months 17/11/2015 to 30/11/2018.

Press release

Start of European Commission’s Project “Specification of waste forms to allow safe treatment, storage and disposal of radioactive wastes held at Ukrainian Nuclear Energy Facilities”

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

The contract for the project was awarded to the Consortium led by PLEJADES GmbH – Independent Experts (Germany) and including also NUKEM Technologies Engineering Services GmbH (Germany), Brenk Systemplanung GmbH (Germany) and the nominated subcontractor LLC “Analytical Research Bureau for NPP Safety”, Ukraine

The purpose of this contract is to recommend and then develop technologies for the processing of selected problematic radioactive waste into forms that are acceptable for long-term storage and/or disposal. As part of the work, the Contractor will produce

physicochemical and radiological analysis of selected waste streams,
generic waste acceptance criteria for long-term storage,
a Technical and Economic Analysis for the processing technologies,
technical specifications for the required equipment/systems and
the related safety documentation.

Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, and State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of Exclusion Zone are Beneficiary organisations. Ukraine’s operating NPPs – ZNPP, RNPP, SUNPP, KhNPP are the project End Users as well as ChNPP and Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise.

Press release

Kick-off meeting of European Commission’s Project Comprehensive Safety Assessment of Radioactive Waste Management Sites operated by State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association “Radon” and Design of Remediation for Specific Facilities

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

The overall objectives of the project are the following:

Implementation of comprehensive safety assessments for the five State Interregional Specialised Plants of State Corporation “Ukrainian State Association “RADON”;
Transfer of sustainable capability to the SC UkrSA Radon in safety assessment; and
Design of remediation measures for problematic storages (except for well-type storages) located at the five End User sites.

At the Kick-Off meeting held on 20 November 2018, the project implementation plan was presented by the Contractor and discussed with the Beneficiary of the project (the State Agency of Ukraine for Management of Exclusion Zone), the end user (State Corporation RADON) and other stakeholders. The project is being implemented by the German-Ukrainian Consortium led by Brenk Systemplanung GmbH and comprising Plejades GmbH, UkratomInstruments Corporation and DMT GmbH & Co.

Press release

Kick-off meeting of European Commission’s Project Development of a National Plan for Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal in Ukraine and its Implementation Schedule

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

The contract for this project was awarded to a consortium of waste management organisations led by BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (Germany) and including ANDRA (France) and SKB International AB (Sweden). The consortium is assisted by a team of Ukrainian experts from the Radioenvironmental Centre of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences as well as by experts of Posiva Solutions Oy (Finland).

At the Kick-Off meeting held on 10 October 2018, the project implementation plan was presented by the Contractor and discussed with the project Beneficiary, State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone, project End-user, the State Specialized Enterprise “Central Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise”, and other stakeholders.

Contractor’s Team will ensure close involvement of experts representing the most advanced deep geologic disposal programs in Finland, France and Sweden. Beneficiary and End User organisations will take an active part in implementation of the project and will effectively interact with the Contractor to achieve the project objectives.

Press release

Ukraine presents the stand «Chornobyl: the territory of change» at the UN international exhibition in Vienna

Monday, 17 September 2018

The stand will present the achievements of Ukraine in overcoming the consequences of the Chornobyl accident, decommissioning of the ChNPP and transforming the Shelter object into an ecologically safe system, as well as the potential of the Exclusion Zone.

Particular attention is paid to the large-scale program of revival of the Exclusion Zone which was initiated by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. It is expected that this event will be visited by more than 5,000 guests, including international experts, IAEA Secretariat staff and participants of the General Conference.

“Representing Ukraine for the first time at this highly reputed event with our own Chornobyl related stand is a great responsibility and honour for our team. More than half a year of preparation involving experts and international support is over resulting in full implementation of our creative ideas more than 1300 kilometers away from Ukraine. I hope we will be able to present honourably the achievements in overcoming the consequences of the Chornobyl accident and get experts and potential partners interested in order to implement new, socially significant projects within the Exclusion Zone”, Vitalii Petruk, Head of SAUEZM, emphasized.

The exhibition was opened by Mary Alice Hayward, acting Director General of IAEA, who stressed that the tragedies of Chornobyl and Fukushima are what has consolidated the entire world community in order to remedy the consequences of the accidents at the nuclear power plants. The IAEA directs its activities to ensure the safety of the whole world and prevent such accidents in the future.

During the next 5 days, at the stand «Chornobyl: the territory of change», visitors will see the 3D model of the world-famous Protective Arch (New Safe Confinement NSC) over the destroyed reactor, accompanied by computer graphics. No less interesting for the visitors will be the opportunity to get under the Arch with the help of an interactive panel in the 360 degrees format and even to download an application and take a selfie with the NSC on the background.

All those willing can also take a virtual tour of the most popular places in the Exclusion Zone using VR glasses, and see the sheer size of the Zone and its main facilities on a large map overlay.

The stand has been prepared by the SAUEZM with the financial support of the European Commission.

EU launches RODOS nuclear emergency management system in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

Thursday, 12 July 2018

The Dissemination Workshop and Press Conference in the framework of project “Extension of the RODOS Decision Support System in Ukraine to cover the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone” were held in the Conference Room of the Radisson Hotel on 12 July 2018. These events mark successful completion of the project, they were attended by the high level representatives of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, State Agency for the Management of the Exclusion Zone, Ukrhydrometcentre, EC Joint Support Office, as well as by numerous experts and representatives of stakeholder organisations.

Press release

EU-funded Programme for the Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant: Kick-off Meeting for project U4.02/16A

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

All three project Ukrainian Beneficiaries and End Users took part in the project Kick-off Meeting: Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, Ministry of Health and the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate.

The European Commission were represented by the JSO.

The project main objective is to improve Ukrainian legal and regulatory framework related to uranium legacy sites and in particular to remediation and decommissioning of the Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant.

The Contractor presented their main approaches to project implementation, findings of their inception period and provided an analysis how these findings would impact the project.

An initial analysis demonstrated that key elements of the project are:

development and support in the adoption of a draft law of Ukraine on the management of the uranium legacy sites;

amendment of the Radiation Safety Norms of Ukraine and support of their adoption.

Designed project duration is 2 years.

Members of European Parliament visited Ivankiv City and Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and took part in colloquium “Health and Ecological Programmes around the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone”

Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Representatives of the following organisations took part in the visit:

European Parliament

European Commission

EU Delegation to Ukraine

Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine

Joint Support Office for support to the Management of INSC in Ukraine

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine

Ministry of Health of Ukraine

State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of Exclusion Zone

Social Programme Project Team

The main results which have been delivered under the project include:

Modern medical and laboratory equipment has been provided to Ivankiv district hospital to measure the radioactive and chemical agents in human bodies and food.

Up-to-date radiological mapping of the area around Ivankiv has been performed and an information centre established to raise awareness of general public about the potential consequences of and ways to avoid radiological hazards.

A state-of-the-art greenhouse of about 7,500 sq meters has been constructed in Ivankiv district to allow the production of healthy vegetables, free from radioactive contamination or chemical pollution, for the local population.
A EUR 1.25 mln incinerator for forest waste has been put into operation in Chornobyl to prevent forest fires and resultant spread of airborne radionuclides. Thanks to a unique filtration system, ashes released during combustion of contaminated wood are collected and can be safely disposed of.

Also European Parliament Delegation participated in a colloquium held in Kyiv on July 10, 2018 to discuss the results of the “Health and Ecological Programmes around the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone”.

The key speakers were the following:

Dr Volodymyr Kurpita, General Director of Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine

Mr Vitalii Petruk, Head of SAUMEZ

Michèle Rivasi, MEP

Pr V. Kashparov, Dr of sience Biology, Director of Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Radiology, National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine

Dr O. Kadun, Chief Doctor of the Ivankiv Central Hospital

Pr Yu. Bandаzhevskiy, Head of the Board of PI Coordinating and Analytical Center «Ecology and Health», Ivankiv

Dr M. Melnychuk, Director of the Mother and Child Protection Center of the Ivankiv Central Hospital

Dr B. Belgacem, Health policy research, University hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, University Clermont Auvergne

Dr N. Dubova, Associate professor of Public Health, National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education named after P.L. Shupyk

Pr L. Gerbaud, MD PhD, Health policy research, University hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, University Clermont Auvergne Proposals for the continuation of the project; short discussion

It was concluded, that the programme has generally achieved its objectives within the available time and budget.

Press release

Information booklet

Presentations (archive)

Closing press conference and demonstration of equipment for the EU-funded project U4.01/12BD PART II “Equipment for Emergency Response at Specialized Enterprises of State Corporation Radon and for Remediation of Radioactive Waste Storage Sites”

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

During the press conference, the following speakers presented their speeches:

1. Director of State Specialized Enterprise “Kyiv State Interregional Specialized Plant” Mikhailo Khodorivskiy

2. SAUMEZ Head Vitaliy Petruk

3. EC Project Manager Hans van Vliet

4. Director of Joint Support Office David Corbett

5. Director of UAB LOKMIS Janіs Bumbulis

6. Director General of SE Radon Andriy Burgomistrenko.

The press conference was followed by demonstration of equipment provided to Radon for safe management and longer-term remediation of over 50 radioactive waste storage sites outside the Exclusion Zone that are the Chornobyl Accident legacy. It includes equipment for detecting and measuring radiation levels, personnel protection, transportation and storage of radiation-contaminated substances.

EC published Contract Information Notice

On 22nd September 2020, the EC published Contract Information Notice at the TED-Etendering portal for project U4.01/18A – Establishment of an appropriate Programme Management Infrastructure inside the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone:

See more information

EC published Prior Information Notice

On 3rd February 2020, the EC published Prior Information Notice about the planned procurement of contract “Establishment of an appropriate Programme Management Infrastructure inside the State Agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone”.

See more information

Invitation for Expessions of Interest

Project No. 9700

Emergency Measures for Implementation at the Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant, at Kamyanske (formally Dneprodzerzhinsk), Ukraine

January 2017

IFT No.: 2017-01

STCU hereby invites all potential tenderers and contractors to express their interest in supplying the services and works within the European Commission project at the former Pridniprovskiy Chemical Plant (PCHP) which is located in Kamyanske (formerly Dniprodzerzhinsk), Ukraine. The project is aimed at implementation of preparatory works for subsequent remediation of the PCHP site.

STCU is implementing the above-mentioned project (Project No 9700) for the European Commission and jointly with the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine (MECIU) and the site manager, state-owned enterprise Barrier.

The principal objective of this project is to carry out a number of emergency measures designed to immediately improve the safety and security of the PCHP site. These measures are also necessary precursors to the long-term remediation of the site.

See more information at STCU web-site

The EU’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation: Story of Success

In the initial years of the INSC Programme, this cooperation consisted mainly of soft and hard assistance (thirty five projects within AAPs 2007 and 2012) to the nuclear operator of the Ukrainian NPPs, whereas, in the later years, cooperation increasingly focused on soft assistance as envisaged in the INSC Strategy and its mid-term revision. Twelve projects for regulatory support and forty-four projects concerning support in the development of a responsible policy for the management of radioactive waste in Ukraine (and for Chornobyl in particular) as well as for environmental remediation of contaminated sites were approved in the period 2007 – 2020. In addition, four projects (6M Euro) were approved for contracts with EU utilities for providing on-site assistance to complete safety improvement projects that had begun during the TACIS programme. The Joint Support Office (JSO) in Kyiv continued guiding and monitoring all these projects during the period 2007 – 2020.

Since 1992, the European Union through the “Technical Aid to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS)” and since 2007 through the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC), have been providing a support to Ukraine in building and developing nuclear safety capacities with simultaneous implementation of the highest safety standards.

A number of large projects have been successfully implemented by the EU during this time for mitigation of the consequences of the Chornobyl Accident and reduction of the radioactive burden on the environment in accordance with international and Ukrainian safety norms and standards. Industrial Complex for Solid Radwaste Management, Liquid Radwaste Treatment Plant, Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Storage facility (ISF-2), Centralized and Mobile laboratories, Training Centre and Drums and Containers facility in Slavutich, social projects for the areas affected by the Chornobyl accident are just a few to name.

Substantial support has been delivered also to the sites of the SSE “Association Radon” in development of their capabilities in emergency response, environmental radiation monitoring and rehabilitation of historical storages of radioactive waste and spent radiation sources.

The EU assistance covers also Ukrainian NPPs alongside with their Leading organisation SE NNEGC Energoatom. Significant efforts have been made by the EU in support of establishment of NNEGC Energoatom National Training Centre for the Management and Maintenance personnel at Zaporizhzhia NPP and the Solid Radioactive Waste Treatment Facilities at the Zaporizhzhia and Rivne NPPs.

See the video at

Chornobyl Incinerator

The incinerator, which is intended to burn wood collected from clearing the forest floor, in a controlled manner thereby:

reducing the risk of forest fires as the deadwood is collected and removed;
reducing pollution as the burning is controlled and the exhaust fumes are carefully filtered to prevent radionuclides from entering the atmosphere;
providing seasonal employment clearing the forests; and
producing heat for the local town in a sustainable way.

Wood, bark and branches subject to disposal are taken to the facility, turned into chips in a wood crusher and stored prior to burning. The chips have to have a humidity of less than 60%.

The flue gases are cleaned in the high efficiency multicyclone followed by activated charcoal injection after which the gases pass through the bag filter.

Support to increase safety of nuclear facilities

In 2010, a study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of the Ukrainian NPPs in the context of supporting the implementation of the Road Map for Nuclear Safety of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy between EU and Ukraine. The study was funded by INSC (AAP 2007) and it was coordinated by the IAEA and the EC. It concluded that the overall safety of the NPPs had improved since a similar evaluation in the 1990s. Nevertheless, further improvements were still considered necessary.

The completion of the National Training and Management Centre was supported by the INSC as a continuation of another TACIS project. The project began in 2009 and was implemented in several parts. It made an indispensable input in creation of a unique Maintenance training facility equipped with many full-scale simulators of VVER nuclear unit systems and equipment. The project enabled also establishment of the NNEGC Energoatom ‘Management Academy.

The Joint Support Office (JSO) in Kyiv has provided an essential role since its establishment in late 2004, specifically in facilitating effective contacts between the Ukrainian authorities, the operator, the regulatory authority, the contractors, the EU Delegation in Kyiv and the European Commission in Brussels. But also in supporting overall management of the INSC Programme in Ukraine, as well as in the oversight of successful implementation of INSC Projects.

In the Shadow of Chornobyl. Improving children's health

This video was produced with the financial support of the European Union. The STCU is fully responsible for its content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Former Pridniprovskyi Chemical Plant (PChP)

In September 2021, the European Commission signed a Contribution Agreement, committing €5.7 million to support several priority actions required to support initial remediation activities at the PChP site. The Project foresees the establishment of a Radioactive Materials Management Plan, which will be based on the 2016 Remediation Strategy Document and define the priority activities to be implemented. The Project also foresees the establishment of interim safe storage and final disposal for radioactive materials located at the site, together with further strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework for Uranium Legacy Sites in Ukraine.

Following the completion of the EU funded project to develop a long-term strategy for the remediation of the PChP site at Kamyanske costing €1.1 million, in 2016 and in partnership with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine the EU commenced activities to bring the site into a safe condition.

This video was produced with the financial support of the European Union. The STCU is fully responsible for its content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Chornobyl Incinerator

The EC prepared a short movie about one of the projects – U6.01/11E “Supply and installation of a wood incinerator”, which was implemented in the framework of the Health and ecological programmes around the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

The incinerator, which is intended to burn wood collected from clearing the forest floor, in a controlled manner thereby:

reducing the risk of forest fires as the deadwood is collected and removed;
reducing pollution as the burning is controlled and the exhaust fumes are carefully filtered to prevent radionuclides from entering the atmosphere;
providing seasonal employment clearing the forests; and
producing heat for the local town in a sustainable way.

Wood, bark and branches subject to disposal are taken to the facility, turned into chips in a wood crusher and stored prior to burning. The chips have to have a humidity of less than 60%.

The flue gases are cleaned in the high efficiency multicyclone followed by activated charcoal injection after which the gases pass through the bag filter.

The EU’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation

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