A pre-startup peer review by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) has been completed at Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (being built by Rosatom State Corporation). The international team assessed the readiness Unit 1’s for startup and subsequent operation.
The main phase of the review lasted two weeks and involved 17 experts fr om Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Russia, Slovakia and the United States. They represented WANO’s regional centres in Moscow, Paris, Atlanta and Shanghai, as well as eight nuclear power plants: Kursk, Smolensk, Novovoronezh and Leningrad NPPs (Russia), Belarusian NPP, Kozloduy NPP (Bulgaria), Bohunice NPP (Slovakia) and El Dabaa NPP (Egypt). Director of the WANO Moscow Centre Vasily Aksenov and industry adviser, Chief Engineer of Belarusian NPP Anatoly Bondar joined the team on the second week.
The experts reviewed operating documentation, observed personnel at work and conducted plant walkdowns. The assessment covered equipment condition, arrangements for operations and maintenance, organisational structure and personnel training, emergency preparedness and response, fire and radiation protection, and engineering support. An earlier, separate phase of the review focused on observing main control room crews working on the full-scope simulator.
“Akkuyu Nuclear will be the operator throughout the entire life cycle of Akkuyu NPP. That is why the safety, reliability and efficiency of the plant’s future operation are central to our work as we prepare to start up Unit 1. As we deliver the project, we are systematically adopting leading international practices and approaches developed across the global nuclear industry. WANO’s pre-startup peer review is an important part of this work: it provides an independent professional assessment, enables us to exchange experience with our peers and helps us identify ways to further improve plant processes. I thank the WANO team for their professionalism, constructive dialogue and valuable recommendations,” said Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Chief Executive Officer Sergei Butckikh.
The independent experts identified five strengths at Akkuyu NPP, two of which relate to personnel training. They commended the way the full-scope simulator is kept consistent with the current configuration of the power unit: all changes made at the unit are promptly reflected in the simulator model. The comprehensive training of Turkish engineers, which helps create a shared professional environment for Turkish and Russian specialists, was also recognised as a strength.
The experts also identified the plant’s effective configuration management system during construction as a strength. Dedicated software brings together design documentation and equipment installation data in a single source of information, allowing the actual configuration of systems and equipment to be checked against design requirements.
In the area of chemistry, the experts recognised solutions that optimise the production of chemically demineralised water. Another strength was the site’s multilayered protection against wildfires, which includes early fire detection, seasonal prevention measures and the involvement of volunteer firefighting teams.
“The main purpose of a pre-startup peer review is to assess how well the plant team is prepared for operation. The unit’s personnel are responsible for nuclear, radiation and technical safety. Continuous training, in-depth knowledge of equipment and effective teamwork within operating crews are therefore particularly important. Experience from other plants helps us identify issues requiring attention at an early stage. We are ready to support an ongoing exchange of experience, including visits by Akkuyu NPP specialists to plants wh ere new units have recently been started up,” said Director of the WANO Moscow Centre Vasily Aksenov.
“The Akkuyu NPP team has already achieved important results in commissioning. By the start of the peer review, the hydraulic testing phase of commissioning had been completed at Unit 1, demonstrating a high level of readiness of the unit’s systems for further startup activities. Working with our colleagues at Akkuyu was a valuable opportunity to exchange professional experience. We discussed plant operations openly, shared our experience and explored possible solutions together. This work benefited specialists on both sides. The recommendations developed during the review will help the Akkuyu NPP team identify areas for further improvement in plant performance,” said industry adviser and Chief Engineer of Belarusian NPP Anatoliy Bondar.
The experts also noted the plant’s openness throughout
the review. Its openness was rated at 95% against WANO criteria. The
team identified the high level of mutual respect among Akkuyu NPP staff as one
of the strongest features of the plant’s nuclear safety culture.
At the closing meeting, the international team presented its findings to Akkuyu NPP management. The experts’ recommendations will form the basis for developing corrective actions and optimising work practices and plant processes.
Akkuyu NPP is the first nuclear power plant being built in the Republic of Türkiye. The Akkuyu NPP project includes four power units equipped with Generation 3+ VVER reactors of Russian design. The capacity of each power unit is 1200 MW. Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the global nuclear industry being implemented according to the Build-Own-Operate business model.
Russia is developing cooperation with all interested countries. Implementation of major international projects is going on. Rosatom and its divisions take part in this work.
The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) is an international non-profit organisation established in 1989. It brings together organisations operating nuclear power plants around the world. WANO helps improve nuclear power plant safety and reliability through peer reviews, the exchange of operating experience and professional support. Pre-startup peer reviews assess the readiness of new power units for startup and operation.
