R1.04/00 - TACIS project management unit at Leningrad

In the framework of the "Tacis Nuclear Safety Programme" it was decided to provide the Leningrad NPP (LNPP), Russian Federation with an on-site assistance (OSA) programme with the aim of providing technical support and transferring experience to improve the operational safety of the plant. A project management unit (PMU) was established to manage the completion of supply tasks that were started under the previous contracts 97.0400, 98.0457 and 00.0060. The two main goals of the PMU were the provision of OSA support to the LNPP personnel and the management of a plant improvement project (PIP). The PMU 4 main tasks:

1. Task 1: Setup of the PMU,
2. Task 2: Large scale project implementation,
3. Task 3: OSA programmes and
4. Task 4: Project management

The goals of Task 1 were to ensure and provide all the necessary facilities & equipment needed to perform its tasks, setup administrative agreements with LNPP, install a quality system and issuing of the inception report. The goal of Task 2 was to implement an integrated monitoring control and protection system (IMCPS) for LNPP units 3 & 4, which is basically the above mentioned PIP. The goal of Task 3 was to continue the “soft assistance” for projects that were started under previous contracts. The sub-tasks of Task 3 were:

• Management support for the following projects:
  • Installation of solidification facility for liquid radioactive waste (R1.04/93D),
  • Implementation of electronic document management system (R1.04/95Y),
  • Installation of validation facility for control panels (R1.04/96A),
  • Supply & installation of refuelling machine C&I (R1.04/97A),
  • Supply of training equipment (R1.04/97B) and
  • Supply of small equipment (R1.04/97C)
• Implement project culture,
• Decommissioning planning & preparation and
• Organising visits to exchange experience.

The goal of Task 4 was to consolidate all management efforts in delivering the PMU (e.g. reporting, meetings, invoices, etc.).

The contract for project R1.04/00 was awarded to BNFL (VT Nuclear Services Limited). It started on 7th November 2002 and was completed on the 7th November 2005. Task 1 was completed. The IMCPS under Task 2 was not implemented, because the EC and the beneficiary LNPP (Rosenergoatom) could not agree on a funding scheme. LNPP wanted to award the contract to a potential supplier by direct agreement, which is not in-line with EC financial regulations. Thus EC withdrew funding for this project, but asked BNFL to search for an alternative large scale project. However, no alternative large scale project was identified and the OSA to LNPP was discontinued after the completion of this contract.

The goals of Task 3 were met. BNFL provided management support to bring the above listed projects forward and some of them finally to completion. However, their further development differed quite significantly from huge delays to successful completion. They are subject to separate, more in-depth summaries. Large delays to the preparation of the 1997 projects R1.04/97A, R1.04/97B and R1.04/97C meant that they could not be contracted within time limits laid down in the Tacis procurement rules. Along with a large number of other Tacis 1997 equipment supply projects they were cancelled. Most of those cancelled 1997 projects were re-programmed in the Tacis 2003 programme. However, due to the decision not to continue the LNPP OSA, the projects R1.04/97A, R1.04/97B and R1.04/97C were not re-programmed. The project culture and visits for exchanging experience were successfully organised. Steps for the decommissioning planning were undertaken. The main goal of Task 4 to establish a working reporting system for the project was successfully achieved.