At the beginning of April 2025, it will be three years since Energoatom joined the Paris Center of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO PC). The Company actively cooperates with the Association under various programs. Six employees of NNEGC have been delegated to participate in the Paris Center activities. These experienced technical specialists from Ukrainian nuclear power plants have received the status of the WANO PC secondees.

One of them is our interlocutor Yevhen Nikitenko, who previously held the position of NPP Chief Safety Specialist in Chief Technologist Service at the South Ukraine NPP. With 15 years of operational work at the nuclear power plant, he successfully passed the competition for the position of the WANO Paris Center secondee, where he currently works under a 3-year contract.

Yevhen considers nuclear power to be his life’s work that excites and motivates him to professional and personal development. Since his childhood, he dreamed of aviation, and became a nuclear engineer, but he never lost his interest in airplanes, he pursues this interest by engaging in large-scale aircraft modeling. He intends to create models of airplanes for Ukrainian aces, who heroically hit the enemy and cover our sky. Moreover, he deeply studies history and improves his English. He believes in the powerful future of the Ukrainian nuclear industry.

– Yevhen, how did you get into nuclear industry?

– I have been fond of aviation since my childhood, my father served in the Air Force. However, my dreams of airplanes paled to insignificance, because the early 2000 was not the best time for the Armed Forces. Then I listened to my parents’ advice and entered the Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Industry, Nuclear Energy Department. We lived in Pivdennoukrainsk, a satellite town of the SUNPP, so we understood well that nuclear energy would be our future.

– Your professional journey took place at the SUNPP. What stages and achievements in your career as a nuclear employee do you consider the most significant?

– My professional journey at the SUNPP is my life; I put my heart into it. Therefore, everything was significant, and everything was interesting. I consider the most important for 15 years at the plant to be the knowledge I gained, my professional growth and relationship with colleagues. I started as a field operator of turbine department-1, after that – reactor department, where I gradually climbed the ladder of operational work, reaching the position of MCR Senior Reactor Operator. For the last 5 years, before my work for the Paris Center, I worked as Chief Safety Specialist in Chief Technologist Department. This is a unique practice, because such specialists are only available at the SUNPP. The position was approved at our plant, relying on international experience, in particular, the French company EDF.

– Did you have experience of participation in international and WANO events, while working at the SUNPP?

– My first experience was training in 2014 – in nuclear knowledge management, it was conducted at the A. Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste (Italy). Later I joined the WANO youth movement. Since 2018, I have actively participated in the activities of the Association, researched operating experience, and participated in a number of events, in particular, during the Peer Review, I worked for the SUNPP on the topic of SOER (Significant Operating Experience Reports). By the way, this area is my work now in the Paris Center.

– Therefore, did you become a secondee by chance?

– At least I was mentally ready for that. Moreover, when such an offer came at the end of 2022, I agreed. I successfully passed English proficiency tests and an interview with PC managers. In May-June 2023, my test mission took place at the Spanish Vandellos NPP (ANAV Company).

– What do you expect from working at the international level?

– First of all, it is gaining international experience, which I would like to use in the future for the development of our industry. In fact, the nuclear power industry of Ukraine is experiencing a renaissance. We will definitely build new power units, and the focus will be on next-generation nuclear technologies in the future.

– How successful was your test mission?

– It was difficult and at the same time interesting, because it was my first visit to a foreign nuclear power plant. The Vandellos NPP is a two-unit plant, and the construction of its Unit 1 was stopped back in 1990 due to the destruction of the turbine hall by fire, only Unit 2 (PWR, 1087 MW) is in operation, it has been in operation since 1988. In general, that test mission was positively noted. The atmosphere of constant movement typical for peer reviews was very motivating, when every day there were new tasks, new challenges. You make rounds, communicate with people, conduct interviews, etc., it means, you feel immersed in the process all the time. At the Vandellos NPP, I was impressed by the extremely responsible attitude of my Spanish colleagues to safety. It can be said, safety is at the level of religion there, and the attention is extraordinary. The equipment is also in perfect condition: it is like new, although it was manufactured a long time ago. By the way, contractors licensed by its manufacturer, for example, General Electric, Westinghouse, and others carry out equipment maintenance there. Engineering is at a high level, it is clear that many resources have been invested in modernization.

– Describe your area of ​​responsibility at the WANO PC now.

– Since the beginning of September 2023, I have been working in the operating experience team of the WANO PC Member Improvement Department. As I have already mentioned, in peer reviews I lead the direction related to SOER. These are industry-wide recommendations compiled based on reports of important operational events that occurred at nuclear power plants and had safety consequences. In order to avoid a recurrence of similar situations, recommendations are prescribed and preventive measures are developed based on their analysis. There are currently 17 SOER recommendations.

– Therefore, during a mission to a specific NPP, you review the plant’s implementation of SOER recommendations, don’t you?

– Yes, I do. Moreover, I already have experience as a head of the review area. The SOER area is special, because it covers almost the entire spectrum of activities at a nuclear power plant: operations, engineering, maintenance, nuclear and radiation safety, post-Fukushima measures, etc. To review the implementation of SOER, you need to communicate with specialists from different departments, conduct interviews, research, record facts, study areas for improvement, etc. My task is to collect the necessary information and provide it in a final document. The results of the SOER review affect the overall NPP assessment, so the quality of my final product is extremely important, I must have the appropriate technical background, be independent and impartial.

– Very soon, it will be a year and a half from the start of your full-time work as a secondeee. Which plants have you already managed to visit with missions?

– For mentioned period, I have visited five European plants; I have been involved in various missions. With peer reviews, I visited Swedish Forsmark NPP and two French NPPs, the Gravellines NPP and the Cattenom NPP. Within the framework of training, I also visited the French Dampierre NPP. I also participated in a pre-visit to the British Torness NPP.

– Share your impressions, please.

– Each site has its own characteristics, a certain atmosphere. For example, the French Gravellines NPP, which is one of the five largest in the world, impressed me with its scale, and after the shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, it is the most powerful plant in Europe that produces electricity. It operates six units with PWR reactors designed by Framatome, with a total capacity of 5,460 MW. In addition, at the Swedish Forsmark NPP, I was delighted with the housekeeping level, exemplary attitude of employees to their plant, equipment, etc. It is clear that people live by their work, and the Swedish colleagues are very positive and open. The same goes for the Scotch employees at the Torness NPP, which I currently attend as a secondee. These are selected examples. Therefore, as an inquisitive person, I noted something interesting at each NPP.

– What about the French NPPs? After all, you have already mentioned the experience of the EDF operator implemented at the SUNPP.

– EDF deserves special attention; it has the largest fleet of nuclear power units – 57! Moreover, it also has hydro and wind generation. In particular, it is a state within a state; imagine how many employees there are. It is such a national electricity giant, almost every socket in France receives current from EDF facilities. By the way, Energoatom and EDF are very similar in this aspect – both companies produce base generation for their states. EDF, like our company, has a very developed collective solidarity, a strong corporate spirit. However, there are also differences. The corporate and NPP site management system in France is based on the Western model. We are currently at the initial stage of corporate development, but these things have been already consolidated for them.

– Do you have a desire to visit a specific NPP in the future?

– I am interested in seeing the nuclear power plants of the U.S. and Japan; I would like to get acquainted with their approaches to managing key processes at NPPs. These are countries with advanced nuclear technologies; they are members of the WANO Atlanta and Tokyo Centers. I hope that someday there will be an opportunity for me to visit the plants of those countries. Nevertheless, this is for the future. Now for us, Ukrainians, the most important and desirable thing is to defeat the enemy. The primary task is to do everything possible to win. Energoatom team strongly supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

– What is the significance of new activities for you – the work at the international level?

– To be honest, I have found myself in this area. I get pleasure from the work that involves constant movement, development, new knowledge, processing and analysis of large volumes of information. Thus, before each peer review, a preliminary information package must be compiled based on the events on the site over the past two years. It is always like a small investigation in a good sense and the accumulation of valuable experience in my own of professional valuable experience.
A powerful incentive is the awareness of the responsibility entrusted to me, because together with my colleagues I have to represent our Company and our State at the international level. As a young specialist, of course, I dream of construction of new power units in Ukraine. In fact, we need to build and develop the nuclear industry, despite all the challenges. I am sure that we have no other way. Therefore, I do my work with faith in the future.

– How do European colleagues feel about the war in Ukraine, in particular the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by the russians, the constant missile attacks on energy facilities?

– The personnel of Paris Center express great support to Ukraine, our Company, and each of us personally, and the deeply empathize with us. We are very grateful for such solidarity to our European colleagues! They understand that it is difficult to comprehend the circumstances in which we are. Moreover, they respect Ukrainians very much for their courage and powerful resistance to the russian invasion.

Our Finnish colleagues, with whom I have become friends, are especially in solidarity with us. Let me remind you that WANO Paris Center Director, Satu Katajala, is also from Finland. It is known that this country had a negative experience of military conflict with the soviet union. Moreover, the Finns are doing a lot for Ukraine, because, like no one else, they know well what russian aggression is. They have a memorial dedicated to the Battle of Suomussalmi during the Winter War; it is made up of thousands of stones symbolizing the fallen defenders. I really hope that after the end of this war, Finland’s experience will become basic for us. After all, despite the great losses in World War II, the Finns were able to create one of the most comfortable and strongest states in Northern Europe, with an extremely strong national spirit.

– It is known that now a new specialist, also a Finn, has been appointed to the Paris Center position responsible for cooperation with Energoatom. Have you already worked well together?

– This position is WANO Rep, and Timo Eurasto from Finland has recently taken it. He replaced Per Teren from Sweden. In my opinion, this is a successful appointment. Per Teren performed his duties very well duties, it was my pleasure to work with him. I have already worked well with Timo Eurasto. It is important that both provide a lot of support to Ukraine.

– What hobbies do you have outside of work? There was information in the media about your personal exhibition of aircraft models in the Pivdenkoukrainsk Museum.

– I have been fond of large-scale aircraft modeling since my childhood; probably this is compensation for the fact that I did not become a pilot myself. I prefer naval aviation, but I also create other aircraft models, helicopters. In addition, I really enjoy learning English. I also have a great interest in history. In 2018, I made a diorama “In the Hell of War” for the town museum dedicated to a combat during the anti-terrorist operation. Just at that time, the director of the museum became interested in my collection of aircraft models. Since that time, I have had my own permanent exhibition there; it is gradually being replenished. Currently, 20 models are presented there. My last work is the B-17 bomber, which has a special meaning for me; I completed it on the last peaceful day, more precisely, on the night of February 23-24, 2022.

After the war, I would like to make the planes for our aces, who heroically hit the numerically superior enemy and close our sky. Therefore, I would like that visitors of our town museum always remember the price of a peaceful sky above their heads.