The scheduled stage of pre-startup peer review by the Moscow Center of
the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO MC) has begun at the Akkuyu
NPP site (constructed by Rosatom State Corporation). A team of experts will assess
professional knowledge and skills of the main control room (MCR) operators of
power Unit 1 according to the Crew Performance Observation (CPO)
procedure. The mission is led by the head of CPO and peer review teams with WANO
MC, Mr. Tingkui WANG (China).
The expert will analyze the actions of MCR operators in situations modelled at a full scale simulator (FSS). Three controlled scenarios will be drilled in as real as possible conditions. Detailed reproduction of operating modes will allow for the assessment of the personnel's capability to control the power unit, to monitor its state and to correctly react to the simulated equipment failures. At the final stage of the mission, the CPO experts will discuss with the Akkuyu NPP personnel the reports made following the drill at FSS according to the scenarios. These data are required for potential revelation of the areas for improvement in terms of working processes, documentation quality and work regulations in case of operational occurrences.
Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Chief Executive Officer Sergei Butckikh said: "The WANO CPO mission is an important event in the plant's life at the pre-startup stage. It is not just a scheduled inspection, but a key development tool for the teams, which have already been trained, to identify their strengths and bottlenecks. Cooperation with the WANO opens access for us to a valued industrial experience, enables to learn and implement the best world practices. The activities like that mission allow for strengthening constructive dialog within the team, discussing the points of growth freely and striving to improve the quality of our daily work."
WANO MC CPO Expert Team Leader, Tingkui WANG noted: "The main objective of the mission is to assess preparedness of the operating personnel to act in various power unit operation modes, including operational occurrences and equipment failures. The main assessment criterion for us is observance of the nuclear safety principles. We also note the actions of operators, their interaction with each other and ability to monitor the power unit state. In addition, the quality of operational documentation is also being assessed during the mission. Right now we do recognize a good training level of the Akkuyu NPP team. Operators successfully work in the proposed scenarios, timely reveal emerging deviations and take necessary measures. The personnel is also acting confidently when switching to the standby controls."
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.
The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) unites all nuclear power plant operators worldwide. It promotes the exchange of operating experience so that its members can work together to achieve the highest levels of safety and reliability in the operation of their nuclear power plants.
