6th int'l conference on nuclear options in countries with

6th Int'l Conference on Nuclear Options in Countries with Small and Medium Electricity Grids, 21-25 May 2006, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Training and Public Information Activities of the Milan Čopič

Nuclear Training Centre

Igor JenčičJožef Stefan Institute

Milan Čopič Nuclear Training CentreLjubljana, Slovenia


Milan ČopičNuclear Training Centre

Nuclear Training Centre Jožef Stefan Institute involved in training of nuclear professionals

since late ’70s The training centre built in 1989 An organizational unit of the Jožef Stefan Institute



Premises and activities

staff 9 (1 PhD, 2 MSc, 3 BSc) 1600 m2 in two floors 5 lecture rooms, multifunctional simulator, radiation lab permanent exhibition on nuclear energy

Core activities:1. Training of nuclear professionals

2. Radiological protection training

3. International courses

4. Public information



Professional training

“Nuclear technology – theory” course (TJE) Initial theoretical training of NPP licensed operators 17 weeks

“Basics of nuclear technology” course (OTJE) non control room staff of NPP regulatory body, TSO, radwaste agency... 4 + 4 weeks

“Introduction to nuclear technology” (UTJE, USJE) introduced this year for new employees of Krško NPP 1 + 2 weeks



Modules of professional coursesTHEORY

TJEhours

OTJE-Thours

UTJEhours

Review of math and physics 8

Introduction to nuclear power 5 3 2

Nuclear Physics 52 20 9

Reactor Physics 97 15 3

Radiological Protection 38 25

Chemistry 12 7

Thermo- and Hydrodynamics 72 18 6

Materials in NPP 26 4 1

Electricity 29 16

Instrumentation and Control 23 9 1

Nuclear Safety 27 6 3

Review of selected topics 45 4

Exams 20 4

English language 56

TOTAL 510 131 25

NPP SYSTEMSOTJE-Shours

USJEhours

General Description of NPP 7 3 Primary Systems 10 6 Auxiliary Primary Systems 4 3 Technical Safety Systems 19 10 Secondary Systems 23 8 Control Systems 5 Electrical Systems 6 4 Reactor Protection System 3 Other Auxiliary Systems 13 5 Operation of NPP 10 5 Walk around in NPP 11 Review of selected topics 8 Exams 4 TOTAL 111 44



Radiation protection training

in Slovenia required by law JSI one of 2 authorized institutions introductory and refresher courses medicine, NPP, industry, research

radiation protection module embedded also in nuclear technology courses

Jožef Stefan Institute supervises the radiation protection training in NPP Krško, as well



International courses Various areas of nuclear technology and radiation

protection In collaboration with the IAEA, EU, US NRC, ... ~2300 participants from 96 countries



Public information In 1990-1995 strong movement to prematurely close the NPP Very strong opposition to host a RW repository in any local community First exhibition in the basement of NTC set up in 1991 Since 1993 visits of organized groups

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7101 67037427 7632

64557377 7359

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0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005



Information activities

Live lectures and radlab TRIGA reactor tour

Info materials

Exhibition about nuclear power and fusion



Live lecture

New approach includes:

• Nuclear energy as part of the energy mix

• Global warming

• Security of supply in the changing world

• New technologies (fusion)

Before:

Nuclear power plant description and radwaste issues



Exhibition tour

several mockups of repositories computer games and quizzes “carousel of radioactivity” human powered electricity TRIGA reactor barrel fusion – energy of future

complements the existing nuclear technology exhibition



Information materials

“Mini Encyclopaedia of Nuclear Energy” 64 pages bilingual (Slovenian/English) free for every visitor

several leaflets on RWM (in collaboration with ARAO)



Website www.icjt.org

300.000 hits/month 10.000 visits/month nuclear database copies of our

lectures FAQ new questions

answered within days



Polling of visitors Monitoring social acceptability of nuclear energy Regular polling every year

The same basic set of questions since 1993 Goal: monitoring trends and comparison between

different groups Polled before the lecture or visit to the exhibition

(uninformed opinion) 2005 poll:

1020 youngsters 41 open day visitors 208 professionals



Agreement with statements about nuclear energy

Economic issues of nuclear energy better known than others

56%

52%

43%

36%

24%

8%

11%

14%

20%

42%

73%

71%

66%

41%

41%

5%

2%

0%

2%

10%

89%

88%

74%

56%

77%

0%

1%

1%

1%

7%

NPP Krško produces 1/3 of electricity in SLO

the fuel in NPP is uranium

electricity from NPP Krško cheaper than thermal

over 200 NPPs operate in Europe

nuclear does not contribute to greenhouse effect

radiation never encountered in everyday life

wind power can replace NPP Krško

no radiation before the discovery of nuclear energy

NPPs produce acid rain

radiation from RW repository detectable 1 km away

youngstersvisitors open dayprofessionals

TR

UE

S

TA

TE

ME

NT

SF

AL

SE

S

TA

TE

ME

NT

S



How long should NPP Krško operate?

“Open day” – persuasion of persuaded?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Shutdown immediately

Shutdown in 5 years

Until the end of life time

Build a new one

Don't know or no answer

youngsters

visitors open day

professionals



What are the reasons for nuclear energy?

Economic/strategic issues most important

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Lower price

Energy independence

Cleanliness of thisenergy source

Lack of other energyresources

I don't know and Noanswer

youngsters

visitors open day

professionals



What are the reasons against nuclear energy?

Radioactive waste considered the major obstacle

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Possibility of anaccident

Disposal of fuel

Enough of other energysources

Radiation from NPP

I don't know and Noanswer

youngsters

visitors open day

professionals



Conclusions

Small nuclear program → nuclear training center has to go beyond pure nuclear training training of nuclear professionals radiation protection training international courses

Public information is a very extensive activity of NTC it reaches around ½ of one school generation in Slovenia knowledge and the attitude towards nuclear issues is

monitored by opinion polls among visitors Eurobarometer poll has showed that certain success was

gained by these public information activities

6th int'l conference on nuclear options in countries with

Technology

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nuclear physics

nuclear safety

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nuclear database copies

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