Safety at nuclear power plants is a priority, in which NNEGC “Energoatom” always strives to keep pace with global trends by implementing effective international practices. One such practice is enhanced Performance Monitoring (ePM) within the Action for Excellence program implemented by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
Despite the challenges of martial law, Energoatom keeps implementing state-of-the-art technologies and innovative solutions to improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of nuclear power plant operation. In particular, enhanced Performance Monitoring (ePM) is being implemented at NPP sites in accordance with the methodology of the WANO Paris Center.
Enhanced Performance Monitoring is one of the key areas of the WANO Action for Excellence initiative, aimed at improving nuclear safety and the efficient operation of nuclear power plants. Its goal is to identify and eliminate potential weaknesses in production processes in a timely manner to prevent them from occurring in the future. The WANO provides nuclear power plants with the necessary targeted assistance in this regard.
The WANO Paris Centre plans to involve all its nuclear power plants in enhanced Performance Monitoring by the end of 2025.
On October 14, a meeting of the Performance Council of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” was held, at which, among other things, a set of issues related to the gradual introduction of enhanced Performance Monitoring was considered.
The event was held via videoconference, which allowed a wide range of specialists from Energoatom's Head Office and separate subdivisions of the company involved in the ePM implementation process to participate. Oksana Kazymyrska, Yevhen Nikitenko, and Oleksii Popov, secondees from Energoatom to the Paris Center of the WANO, were among the speakers. Current topics and specific developments were discussed, and the experience of European NPPs was also presented.
Oksana Kazymyrska emphasized that ePM involves a systematic and structured approach and ongoing support for NPPs from the WANO Paris Center, specifically in areas that are necessary for the plants. The focus is on support, not verification, as is the case with peer reviews. It was noted that a comprehensive approach using tools such as performance monitoring, observation, interviews, NPP activity reviews, and analysis of other data contributes to the effective prevention of potential problems.
Dmytro Agafonov, Deputy Chairman of the Council, outlined how Energoatom is moving in this direction: "The company has set up a working group to introduce and implement enhanced Performance Monitoring, which includes specialists from the Head Office and branches — SS NPPs. The adaptation of ePM indicators for the power units of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” is currently being completed. The next stage, data collection and processing, will begin in January 2026.”
