IAEA experts to begin review of nuclear plants in Raj tomorrow

The Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of the International Atomic Energy Agency will review programs and activities essential to operational safety at units 3 and 4 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) between tomorrow and November 15.

"Basically, it is a peer review of safety status and operating practices done by a team of experts for the IAEA," S S Bajaj, Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) told PTI here.

He said all nuclear plants had undergone a peer review earlier by international experts of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), but it is for the first time any nuclear plant is being subject to the OSART process.

 

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ratan Kumar Sinha said the OSART process would give the nuclear operator insight into its operational process.

"Both OSART and WANO are independent external reviews. It is more of a confidence-building exercise as experts of 10 different nations are involved in the review process," he said.

Sinha said the outcome of the WANO review is confidential, but the findings of the OSART process are in the public domain. (More)