SOUTH COUNTY : Russian Group Visits San Onofre Facility

A group of nuclear engineers from the Russian city of Balakovo spent this week at the San Onofre nuclear power plant learning about technology and operations that they can apply in their country.

The visit was part of an international exchange program organized by the World Assn. of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

“The purpose of the visit is not for the evaluation of the plant but a more technical exchange of information,” said Gene Morgan, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, one of the operators of the San Onofre station.

Earlier this year, officials from San Onofre visited the nuclear power facility in Balakovo, which is about 350 miles south of Moscow on the Volga River.

In exchange, a team of five people from the Balakovo facility, along with a WANO official from Moscow, arrived Sunday and spent the next five days with their San Onofre counterparts.

Morgan said the Russians discussed safety issues, training, day-to-day operations and the role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“They are probably 10 years behind us in the sophistication of training techniques and methodology,” Morgan said.

Pavel Ipatov, director of the Balakovo power station, said he and the other visitors were impressed with a program San Onofre uses to find the “root cause” of a malfunction or interruption in operations.

“They use a very advanced diagnostic system,” Ipatov said through an interpreter. “We would like to have that at our site.”

Ipatov said he also was impressed with the efficiency of the plant and the professionalism of its workers.

During their visit, the Russians stayed in Dana Point and spent some time touring Orange County.

Ipatov, who previously visited the East Coast of the United States, said he has been amazed by the nation’s road system and the number of cars.

And while he liked the Atlantic seaboard, he said, “I’m much more impressed by California.”

“California is a wonderful place,” he said. “To some extent, it is very close to paradise.”