Press Release: 10 Years of Technical Assistance of The European Union (TACIS)

14.01.2005
BN-350 was a milestone in the history of the fast neutron reactors (BN), which was the only industrial power reactor at the moment of putting into operation (November, 1973). It was operated for 25 years, in other words the design life (20 years) was exceeded, and the reactor produced electricity and gas for desalting plants and heating supply to the industrial enterprises.

In 1994, when European Union launched the TACIS program for Kazakhstan, the aid program for the site was initiated by European Commission for the purpose to render the technical assistance in perfection of Nuclear Safety in the nuclear energy objects of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 5 draft projects devoted to increase of nuclear safety of BN-350 reactor were represented to the consideration of the Commission.

In those days fast neutron reactors were operated only in France (Phoenix and Superphoenix), so NERSA (a company, established by France, Germany and Italy for Superphoenix project) was chosen as a consultant for the assistance at the site of BN-350 reaqcor within the TACIS program.

After collapsing of this company, it was changed for the Electicitè de France Consortium (one of the largest operating companies in the world, which operated 58 NPT) and Sogin (an Italian company, operating all Italian Nuclear power plants being at present on the stage of decommissioning and disassembling).

And now, after 10 years of cooperation, it seems possible to assess the achievements and celebrate our mutual successes.

By 1998 the delivery of sodium fires protective cloths was performed. To solve all arisen questions in operational manner and manage the projects in more efficient way, the European Commission adopted a resolution to organize permanent representation of French-Italian company at the site of BN-350 reactor and appoint a specialist in nuclear energy, who should become a link between the European companies and MAEC. Since October 1999 the representative of the Consortium, Mr. Giustino Mancini visited BN-350 reactor annually more than for 6 months, when it was required to undertake some dynamic actions related to the realization of the projects.

It is difficult to make a brief summary of the works for the total amount of the delivery contracts more than 4 millions euros performed during these ten years. If on the initial stage the projects were small-scaled (such as delivery of the equipment for the staff training, carrying out of the courses of English language and widely used software, assistance in establishing of quality management system, delivery of special cloths for sodium fire extinguishing), in relation to the latest three projects (increase of fire safety, spent fuel pond repair and radiological protection of the staff) only equipment and materials deliveries were performed for the amount more than 2700 thous. euros.

The TACIS projects are focused generally on the measures having the relation to the increase of the safe work of the reactor e.g.:

• replacement of emergency power supply batteries to guarantee safety power supply of the systems related to the provision of the reactor safety;
• supply of special equipment for sodium fires fighting;
• staff training;
• delivery of high-tech equipment for mechanical repair of the armature on-site without disassembling;
• delivery of the equipment for execution of analysis of the pipeline and welds metal;
• repair of the spent fuel pond for the purpose to improve its hermiticity;
• improvement of radiological control over the staff and environment.

Realization of these projects was accompanied with experience exchange, mutual work in the sphere of solving the technical problems, mutual technologies transfer, carrying out of course training by the experts from famous European companies: EFCO, UNIT EXPORT, ALSTOM, CANBERRA, PREZIOSO, EXIDE, ZEISS, ROELL AMSLER, LLOYD INSTRUMENTS.

      Totally the philosophy of TACIS program includes the series of simple steps:

• determination of certain need of the Beneficiary in the assistance of the European Union;
• preparation of the Specification according to the requirements of regulatory documents and selection criteria;
• announcement of the open tender and valuation of the bids correspondent to the selection criteria from the potential suppliers;
• preparation and signing of the contract;
• performance of the supply, assembling and comissioning of the equipment;
• staff training;
• control within the warranty period (one or two years as a rule).

Afterwards it is supposed that Beneficiary is able to use the equipment for the activity its was delivered for.

At present 7 projects are completed and 3 projects are on the commissioning stage. Only one project on processing of liquid radioactive wastes was postponed because of the lack of financial assets.

Now ten-years activity on rendering of the technical assistance in the site of BN-350 reactor is on the stage of finishing, but the works within the TACIS program go on, as European Commission decided to continue the cooperation with MAEC Kazatomprom LLP within the framework of decommissioning of the reactor, focusing on processing of liquid radioactive wastes (as a natural extension of the project launched earlier) and solid wastes, which are now on subsurface disposal in the territory of BN-350. This project is included into the Indicative Program 2004-2005 with amount of financing about 10 mln. euros and  requires 3-4 years for fulfillment. Passed tenth anniversary of mutual activity gives us the sureness that this project will be fulfilled successfully and the new impulse will be given to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the countries of European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan.