IAEA to complete operational safety review of Rajasthan nuclear plants on Wednesday
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12/11/2012
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Business Standard (New Delhi)
This is first of country's 20 nuclear plants and IAEA's 171st globally
International Atomic Energy Association’s (IAEA) 12-member operational safety review team (OSART) would complete on Wednesday its operational safety performance of 3&4 units of Rajasthan Atomic Power Stations (RAPS). This is IAEA’s 171 st OSART review across the globe since the programme´s inception in 1982 and first of any nuclear power plant in India.
India’s all 20 nuclear plants have undergone peer review earlier by international experts from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). At present RAPS consist of 8 units including two units of 700 MW each under construction and generating a total of 1,140 MW.
RAPS 3&4 site director JP Gupta told Business Standard “IAEA team headed by Miroslav Nipar has been carrying out its review since October 29. The team was here at the invitation of the Government of India.” He informed in OSART missions, the IAEA coordinates internationally-based teams of experts who conduct reviews of operational safety performance at nuclear power plants.
According to Gupta, the OSART mission has reviewed good practices launched by RAPS 3&4 and it would suggest improvements further improve operational safety. He said two units of 220 MW each were in operation since 2000.
RK Sinha, chairman, Atomic Energy Commission in his address on September 19, 2012 at the IAEA’s 56 th General Conference had declared that India was committed to implement IAEA action plan on nuclear safety. He had also assured that Indian nuclear experts would to participate and assist IAEA secretariat in its endavour to enhance nuclear safety through cluster of measures it had adopted.
According to IAEA, the OSART team members are tasked with studying the operation of the plant and the performance of the plant´s management and staff. OSART focuses more on the human aspect of a nuclear plant rather than the technology behind its operation.