Tests of the PGET (Passive Gamma Emission Tomography) experimental facility, designed to inspect the state of irradiated nuclear fuel during its storage, have been completed at power unit No. 4 of the Balakovo NPP. They were held in the framework of cooperation between JSC Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In 2017 already, the IAEA Department of Safeguards contacted Rosatom with a request to test the PGET facility at one of the Russian NPPs with a VVER-1000 power unit. It was very important for the Agency to test this equipment at VVER-1000 reactors in order to further improve the quality of inspections in the countries operating these Russian power units that are also signatories to the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements. These inspections verify the identity, quantity and composition of nuclear material during storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Prior to testing the installation at the Balakovo NPP, a safety case was developed. During testing, the equipment was placed in the spent fuel storage pool of power unit No. 4 during the period of scheduled maintenance. According to the experts of the nuclear safety and reliability department of the nuclear power plant, the system check lasted 31 hours. The tests have confirmed the efficiency of the PGET facility for inspecting nuclear fuel for VVER-1000 reactors and similar types of reactors operated abroad.

"The tests were completed ahead of schedule and were more than successful," as supplied by Mikhail Mayorov, head of the non-destructive testing service of the IAEA Department of Safeguards. - “The installation has shown excellent results. In order to carry out this operation, the Agency's experts carried out preliminary training for two years. I cannot fail to note the well-coordinated work of the Balakovo NPP employees. The people who work here are professionals in their field."