NO-DESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION OF THE PRIMARY SYSTEM IN IGNALINA NUCLEAR-POWER-PLANT (REPRINTED FROM ABB REVIEW, VOL 1, 1994)

The Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania operates two Russian-bui lt 1500 MW RBMK reactors. The safety standards that were adopted for t he RBMK - a graphite-moderated, multipressure tube BWR - fall short of the level of safety built into the reactors of nuclear plants in West ern countries. A bilateral cooperation agreement signed by Lithuania a nd Sweden puts the Swedish Nuclear Inspectorate in charge of controlli ng and coordinating a long-term safety enhancement programme for Ignal ina. ABB Tekniska Rontgencentralen AB was chosen to carry out a non-de structive examination of the plant's primary system. The results of th e first 18 months of work on this project have been very encouraging.