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In response to a request from Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Yevgeniiy Adamov invited a Department of Energy technical team to observe a Y2K nuclear power plant emergency drill on November 1. The DOE team reported that the Russian workers at the plant generally performed well, with issues that should be addressed in future drills such as the need for improved flow of information between the technical support staff and the crisis team, and busy telephones.

The drill simulated the failure of the "SKALA" data information computers and plant shutdown at the Kursk nuclear power plant units 1, 2, 3 and 4; the disconnection of the Kursk power plant from 750 kV transmission lines; the startup of the Kursk emergency diesel generators; and the reconnection of Kursk to the grid by dispatches from an alternate power supply (the "southern" 110kV transmission line).

"The Department of Energy stands ready to continue to provide technical assistance to the Russian government in order to do everything possible to ensure that the transition to the next century is a smooth one for Russian nuclear power plants," said Secretary Richardson.

The purpose of Monday's drill was to train personnel in emergency response procedures needed in case of Y2K related problems. U.S. participants observed the drill and provided information and lessons learned based on U.S. experience with similar drills.

The drill involved operators at the Kursk nuclear power plant several hundred miles south of Moscow, the Rosenergoatom (REA) nuclear facility crisis center in Moscow, and a transmission/grid system dispatch center in Moscow. The drill started at 12:30 p.m., lasted about two hours and involved approximately 75 people.

For the drill, the Kursk nuclear power plant notified the REA crisis center of the SKALA computer failure. The crisis center used phones, cell phones and pagers to call up staff for the emergency. Kursk provided information to REA using normal and backup communications procedures; the information was analyzed and exchanged with government ministries, technical institutes and regulatory government agencies. All participants joined in a post-drill evaluation to review emergency crisis procedures and systems.

The Energy Department sent technical experts who are part of a comprehensive effort to improve safety at 65 operating Soviet-designed nuclear power reactors at 21 nuclear power plants in nine countries. Russia has 29 operating nuclear power reactors. The DOE safety program reduces the likelihood of a nuclear accident through training, technology and equipment transfer, in-depth safety assessments, and a heightened focus on regulatory practices.

The Department of Energy is working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Science and Technology Center in Moscow to assist the Russian government's efforts to minimize Y2K issues associated with Soviet-designed reactors in Russia.

Additional Russian nuclear power plant Y2K readiness drills are expected later this year.

- DOE -

R-99-297