The platform became a site for effective cooperation between European operators – members of WANO Paris Center, operating VVER reactors.

In April 2022, Energoatom became a member of the Paris Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO PC), braking ranks with WANO Moscow Center. That event was of decisive importance in ending russian influence on Ukrainian nuclear sector.

Energoatom became an example for other European companies that were also members of the WANO Moscow Center. In early 2023, the Paris Center was joined by operators of the NPPs of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and Hungary; these utilities, like Energoatom, operate Soviet-designed VVERs.

At the same time, there was a need to establish a separate area of ​​activities related to the VVER design in the Paris Center. Since other utilities of the Paris Center NPPs operate reactor plants of Western designs – PWR or BWR using technologies of General Electric, Westinghouse, Framatome. Moreover, although PWRs are also pressurized water reactors, these have certain design and other differences compared to VVERs. Therefore, Energoatom took the initiative to establish a permanent working group focused on VVER under the auspices of the WANO Paris Center.

The proposal was approved by the Paris Center; and in April 2024, the kick-off meeting of the newly established group was held. That group included secondees from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and Hungary.

Today, 17 VVER-440 and 15 VVER-1000 power units are in operation at the nuclear power plants of the above-mentioned countries (six of them are at the occupied ZNPP). This is a significant reactor fleet, and accordingly, a wide field for exchanging experience, best practices, and other useful information.

The VVER group in the Paris Center works in the format of remote meetings. According to its participants, this is an effective way of communication for prompt discussion of urgent issues.

The group leader, Oleksii Popov, a secondee at WANO PC from Energoatom, comments: “The main task of our team is to exchange experience between VVER owner companies in Europe. The group was established as a professional community of nuclear colleagues for mutual assistance in solving technical problems. We started working on the topic of restoring supply chains and finding suppliers, and it is currently relevant. At subsequent meetings, we considered the issues of analyzing the reliability of VVER units’ systems and equipment, managing equipment obsolescence, optimizing maintenance and repair, long-term operation of power units, and others.”

Since the group activities cover various areas, specialists from nuclear power plants and utilities are involved in the meetings. The plan is to expand the circle of experts. Energoatom is actively involved in such meetings with participation of specialists from Directorates, NPPs and other separate subdivisions of the Company.

The topical issues submitted for consideration by the group during the year included the following:

• equipment preventive outage strategies;
• implementation of modifications;
• water chemistry for VVER primary circuit.

At the final annual meeting held on November 4, the working group participants were focused on issues remained in the spotlight during the year, and they discussed the topic of cable operation at VVER power units as well.

Other topics that require professional discussion are also relevant, including the extension of the power unit service life, NPP emergency preparedness, nuclear fuel, cybersecurity, etc.

It is worth to mention that the focus of attention of colleagues from other countries is the introduction of alternative fuel at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, primarily at VVER-440 units, which are the vast majority at European NPPs.

In this aspect, Energoatom’s experience is unique, because in September 2023, for the first time in the world, American Westinghouse fuel was loaded into the VVER-440 core at the Rivne NPP, and it has been successfully operated since then.

Having initiated the establishment of the VVER group at WANO PC, Energoatom is actively supporting its activities.