OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2007. The IAEA experts, the head of the IAEA Operational Safety Department Miroslav Lipar and manager for operational safety Gabor Vanos, have arrived at Balakovo NPP today, May 14 2007. The objective of their visit is to discuss the preparations for an OSART mission to Balakovo NPP and to conduct a seminar on OSART methodology.

The OSART (Operational Safety Review Team) mission will take place in 2008. The experts will monitor the plant for its compliance with the IAEA operational safety standards. Such missions are an important part of the international nuclear energy cooperation among the IAEA member states.

The current visit will last till May 18 and will consist of information exchange and inspections of the Blakakovo NPP units, which is part of the preparations for the next year’s mission. Representatives of the Central Office of Rosenergoatom and the All-Russian Research Center for NPP Operation (VNIIAES) are accompanying the IAEA experts.