OSA RU - Assistance for the installation of the system to be supplied with supply contract NSP-023-SPT-001

The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (LNPP) in Russia consists of 4 reactors of the RBMK-1000 type. The plant is situated some 80 km west of St Petersburg close to the town of Sosnovy Bor. At the time the present project was established, the station had significant quantities of radioactive wet sludge wastes. The level of radioactivity resulted in their classification as Intermediate Level Waste (ILW). These wastes consisted mainly of spent filter media and ion-exchange materials and they were stored in large temporary accumulation tanks. At the prevailing rates of accumulation, it was estimated that the existing temporary storage facilities for these wastes would become full in a short time.

As storage of radioactive wastes of this kind in temporary storage facilities for extended periods of time was not considered to be best practice, extensions to the capacity of the existing temporary storage facilities was disregarded as a solution since this would only postpone the required processing and disposal decisions and would increase the magnitude of the problem.

As a result, it was concluded that wastes presently stored should be recovered and safely encapsulated in a new solidification facility to be provided at LNPP through the TACIS programme.

It was concluded that the most appropriate encapsulants for the waste accumulated at LNPP are cementitious powders. The use of cement encapsulation technology at LNPP was consistent with the radioactive waste management policy of the Russian Federation and normal practice at other NPPs.

The objective of the project was to install equipment capable of recovering the accumulated operational wastes from specified storage tanks and processing the wastes by cement solidification into storage and disposal packages developed by others.

The scope of work/supplies included the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the following:

• Waste Retrieval System capable of mobilising and recovering the settled wastes in four existing storage tanks
• Waste Transfer System
• Cement Powder Storage/Mixing and Batching Equipment
• Clay Processing/Preparation Equipment
• Waste/Cement/Additive Mixing and Batching Equipment
• Waste Mixing and Sampling Equipment
• Waste Loading Station
• Waste Container Lidding Equipment
• Lid Grouting and Discharge Station
• Product Quality Checking Equipment
• Control Equipment for the above
• Interconnecting Pipework and Valves
• Supporting Safety Case Documentation
• The system had to be capable of processing 500 kg of dry sludge per hour.

The scope of supplies also included:

1. Manufacturer’s recommended spare parts and consumables for 5 years operation of the facility
2. Accessories and tools necessary for installation, maintenance and normal operation
3. Installation, acceptance testing and commissioning
4. Training and instruction on the commissioning, operation and maintenance of the equipment
5. Technical and operational documentation

Following the tender procedure, the company SGN was awarded the contract. However, the planned budget was insufficient to purchase the recommended spare parts. Consequently, a contract was placed for the main equipment only (R1.04/93D) under the foreseen TACIS 1993 budget. Additional budget was made available under the TACIS 1995 programme for the required spare parts and a second contract (R1.04/95X) was placed with the same supplier for the spare parts.

During the implementation of the contracts several requests for design/equipment modifications were raised and the project experienced significant delays not attributable to the supplier. This led to a first addendum to the contract for the main equipment (R1.04/93D) with a supplemental budget covering the design/equipment modifications.

After the approval of the addendum further problems and delays occurred in the execution of the project.

The EC negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding between the contracting parties, the Russian beneficiary and the supplier, to agree roles and responsibilities of each party for the remaining tasks of the supply contract.

To compensate the supplier for the additional costs experienced as a result of the problems and delays not attributable to him, the scope of his services in the contract were reduced. Whereas the original scope of the contract included the installation, acceptance testing and commissioning of the equipment, this was now removed from the scope of the contract. The End User, Leningrad NPP assumed responsibility for equipment installation, testing and commissioning with supervisory assistance provided by the supplier. An additional contract (Contract 68686) was placed with the supplier to cover these services of assistance to the End User for the installation, testing and commissioning. The contract also included the training of LNPP operating personnel on the installation of the equipment.

Contract R1.04/93D: The contract was signed on 19 January 1999. It was completed by 28 October 2005. All equipment was delivered.

Contract R1.04/95X: The contract was signed on 19 January 1999. It was completed by 28 April 2006. All spare parts were delivered.

Contract 68686: The contract was signed on 22 December 2004. The end date of the contract was 31 July 2007. The training was provided to LNPP personnel as envisaged. From September 2006, in accordance with the installation programme issued by LNPP, the Consultant provided the installation personnel on site for the scheduled start of the installation activities. However, the works under the responsibility of LNPP on the construction of the buildings which were supposed to house the equipment had not advanced to a stage where the equipment installation could begin. The Consultant maintained the readiness of his installation personnel in expectation of an imminent start of the installation activities but the building construction works suffered repeated delays. Installation activities finally began in May 2007. By the time the contract came to a close in July 2007, some equipment had been partially installed. The Commission did not extend the contract and the remaining installation activities were left to LNPP without assistance from the Consultant.