IAEA concludes Forsmark operational safety review
The International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded its operational safety review of Sweden's Forsmark nuclear power plant and expects to submit its final report to the Swedish government within three months.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded its operational safety review of Sweden's Forsmark nuclear power plant and expects to submit its final report to the Swedish government within three months.
The Swedish government requested that the IAEA send an Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) to Forsmark following a short-circuit in the plant switchyard on 25 July 2006. A complex sequence of over- and under-voltages caused the unit to shut down, but with only two of four safety trains in operation. The other two were manually started 22 minutes later, but the discovery of the design fault was a shock to the Swedish nuclear industry.
The IAEA team said that it had found some minor flaws at Forsmark and listed several recommendations in order for the plant to further improve safety. These included that Forsmark should review the responsibilities of operating staff and that the company should implement an independent high-level review to maintain adequate safety accountability beyond the operator. In addition, the team suggested that the plant should strengthen and improve the control and review process of operational documentation and emergency preparedness procedures. The IAEA also recommended that Forsmark should improve its programme for feedback on operating experience.
The team also identified several "good practices" at the plant, which will be disseminated to other nuclear power plants around the world in order for them to also implement them. The IAEA said Forsmark has a well-structured management manual which supports communication of management expectations and commitments. It also praised the plant's computerized monitoring of safety functions and operating status checks. The IAEA was also impressed by Forsmark's use of its training simulator to describe complex events to the media and other groups.
"The requested OSART review is very much in line with our expectations," said Hans von Uthmann a senior executive vice president of Vattenfall and chair of the board of Forsmark. "I would like to thank the OSART team above all for all their hard work in identifying areas for improvement. We can also state that the IAEA inspection clearly shows that the measures initiated a year ago are already bearing fruit."
"I am satisfied with the findings that clearly show Forsmark maintains a high international standard and I know that Forsmark has worked very hard with the international review," said Jan Edberg, President, Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB. "We are going to implement the invaluable suggestions we have received through the IAEA OSART review in our ongoing development programme."
The IAEA introduced its OSART programme to its services in 1982. Under this programme, international teams of experts conduct three-week in-depth reviews of operational safety performance at individual nuclear power plants. These reviews are conducted at the request of the government of the host country. The OSART programme provides an opportunity for nuclear power plant operators in all countries to assist other operators through the dissemination of information on the best international practices.
OSARTs focus on the safety and reliability of plant operation. They review the operation of the plant and the performance of the plant's management and staff rather than the adequacy of a plant's design. Factors affecting plant management and the performance of personnel, such as organizational structure, management goals, and the qualification of personnel are reviewed. Adequacy of programmes and performance related to operational activities are given particular attention.
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