Presented by: Muhammad Ayub Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Safety Enhancement at Nuclear Power Plants in Pakistan Prospects of Nuclear Energy in Pakistan: Vision 2025 Organized by SASSI on 11 th March 2014
Nuclear Safety Nuclear safety depends on the various provisions made at all stages in the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities to protect man and environment against the dispersal of radioactive substances under all circumstances, or in other words actions that: Ensure the facilities are operating normally, Prevent incidents and accidents, Mitigate the consequences of incidents or accidents that may occur. 2
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFETY: THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE Successive stages in the development of safety 1970s: A decade devoted to technical reliability, when the priority was the quality of equipment and procedures, and efforts were concentrated on design. 1980s: A decade devoted to accounting for human error and compensating for it by organization. 1990s: A decade which saw the emergence of the concept of safety culture 2000s: A decade in which severe accident were considered at NPPs. Severe accident management guidelines has been developed to mitigate the consequences. 3
Fundamental Safety Functions of Nuclear Reactor Cooling the Fuel Confinement of Radioactivity Reactivity Control
IAEA Action Plan for Nuclear Safety Post Fukushima Actions IAEA issued action plan in 2011 to further strengthen nuclear safety comprising of following areas: External Events Design Issues (common cause failure, station blackout, etc.) Severe Accident Management National Organizations (Independent Regulatory Body) Emergency preparedness and response and post accident management (offsite) International Cooperation 5
Pakistan is fully committed to implement the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. During the IAEA Ministerial conference held at Vienna in June 2011, Head of the Pakistani delegation declared that: Safe and sustainable nuclear energy is essential in the national energy mix to advance our development and Pakistan continue the nuclear power program Started re-assessment of existing nuclear power plants Highest priority to nuclear safety is imperative for the sustainability and expansion of nuclear power. No room for complacency Post Fukushima Policy on Nuclear Power Program
7 Independent Regulatory Body (PNRA) PNRA as an independent Regulatory Body in Pakistan is responsible for regulatory oversight at nuclear installation and radiation facilities. Following are the licensed Nuclear Power Plants. Karachi NPP Operating since 1972 and its life was extended based on the review of Periodic Safety Report Chashma NPP Unit-1, Operating since 2000 Chashma NPP Unit- 2 Operating since 2011 Chashma NPPs Unit- 3 & 4 under construction and installation phase, planned to commence operation in 2016/17
8 PNRA considered necessary to revisit its own regulatory framework in the light of Fukushima accident Regulations for the Safety of Nuclear Installations-Site Evaluation - PAK/910 Regulations for the Safety of Nuclear Power Plant Design - PAK/911 Regulations for the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants Operation - PAK/913 Regulations for Management of a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency - PAK/914 Review of PNRA Nuclear Safety Regulations
Re-assessment of natural hazards Assessment of availability of infrastructure (necessary for plant safety such as AC power supply sources, heat sink) in case of extreme natural events. Re-assessment of the design features in case of Station Blackout (loss of all AC power) for extended duration Re-evaluation of the design features for controlling hydrogen Re-assessment of Accident Management strategies Re-evaluation and strengthening of off-site emergency preparedness plans and implementing procedures and its demonstration PNRA Issued Special Directives to the Licensees of NPPs
Required the licensee to submit the detailed time specific action plan for the proposed reassessments: Short-term actions to be completed within six months Medium-term actions to be completed within one to two years Long-term actions to be completed in more than two years PNRA Issued Special Directives to the Licensees of NPP
Fukushima Response Action Plan FRAP by PAEC PAEC developed and submitted Fukushima Response Action Plan for C-1/C-2 and K-1 to PNRA. Progress of the plan is reviewed periodically by PAEC Corporate office and reported to PNRA. Some major areas of FRAP are given below. Areas of Concern 1External Natural Hazards6Hydrogen Hazard 2Make-Shift AC Power7Containment Integrity 3DC Power Capacity8Spent Fuel Cooling 4Fire Protection and Control 9EOPs, SAMGs (On-Site Actions) 5Emergency Core Cooling10Emergency Preparedness (Off-Site Actions)
Conclusion 12 The fulfillment of PNRA regulations is ensured through comprehensive regulatory oversight process, inspection and enforcement and strict vigilance is exercised during all phases of nuclear power plants to ensure that safety requirements are fulfilled.
Thank you for your attention