Ukrainian nuclear safety watchdog extends service life of Unit 1 of South Ukrainian NPP by another 10 years

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - The board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) decided at a meeting on Thursday that the operation of Unit 1 of the South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant can be extended for another ten years, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the inspectorate's website.

The board confirmed "the possibility of safe operation of reactor unit № 1 of the South Ukrainian NPP at the power levels determined in the program by December 02, 2033," the board said in its resolution.

Before making the decision, the board members heard a report on the results of a state nuclear and radiation safety examination of the Periodic Safety Review Report of the South Ukrainian NPP's Unit 1.

The board concluded that the examination results and an inspection confirmed that Unit 1 could be operated safely for another ten years.

South Ukrainian NPP Unit 1 meets the nuclear and radiation safety requirements in terms of safety criteria, the board concluded.

The SNRIU board had decided on November 28, 2013 to extend the operation of Unit 1 of the South Ukrainian NPP for ten years beyond its installed life until December 2, 2023.

The SNRIU board's resolution of December 7, 2015 extended the operation of the South Ukrainian NPP's Unit 2 for ten years until December 31, 2025, and its resolution of November 3, 2017 extended the operation of the NPP's Unit 3 until March 5, 2027.

The South Ukrainian NPP's Unit 1 was put into operation on October 18, 1983, Unit 2 on April 6, 1985, and Unit 3 on December 29, 1989.