Photo from UNIAN
The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) has decided to extend for 10 years the lifetime of unit No. 3 of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP) under the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom, according to the SNRIU press service.
"The decision has been made. We have approved it with only a few formalities remaining," the press service said, adding that the length of the extension is 10 years, until March 5, 2027.
The SNRIU also confirmed the possibility of safe long-term operation of the unit.
"State examination of the nuclear and radiation safety of power unit No. 3 and the inspection survey have confirmed the possibility of its safe long-term operation... Zaporizhia NPP's power unit No. 3 meets the safety requirements for the target safety criteria," reads the resolution of the SNRIU Board.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Energoatom is set to extend the service life of the existing nuclear power units to ensure higher levels of electricity generation in the future. The company plans to extend within six years the service life of nine out of 15 power units, as their design life will have expired by 2020.
In September 2016, the SNRIU decided to extend the service of unit No. 1 at Zaporizhia NPP until December 23, 2025. In October, the relevant decision was taken with regard to the NPP's power unit No. 2 (extension until February 19, 2026).
In late October, Energoatom said it was completing the work on extending the life of power unit No. 3 of the NPP, planning to launch it in the first decade of November 2017.
UNIAN memo. Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP) operating six power units with a total capacity of 6 GW is Europe's largest. Its first power unit was commissioned in 1984, second – in 1985, third – in 1986, fourth – in 1987, fifth – in 1989, and sixth – in 1995.