December 16, 1999


            Soviet-Built Nukes Not Y2K Ready, Experts Say


            REUTERS INDEX | INTERNATIONAL | BUSINESS | TECHNOLOGY 


            Filed at 11:15 a.m. ET

            By Reuters

            WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many Soviet-designed nuclear power plants are
            unprepared for the Year 2000 but no systems with immediate impact on safety are in
            danger of failing because of the Y2K computer glitch, a United Nations-backed
            international clearinghouse for Y2K data said Thursday. 

            Of the 68 reactor units in the nine countries of the former Soviet Union, ``many ...
            contain non-safety related systems that are not yet Y2K compliant,'' the International
            Y2K Cooperation Center said. 

            Bruce McConnell, the center's director, cited the Vienna-based International Atomic
            Energy Agency as saying 14 of the plants of greatest concern are in Ukraine and one is
            in Armenia. 

            The report did not spell out exactly how many were lagging nor their locations but
            referred to ``the urgent need for (upgrade) work to continue and for adequate funds to
            be made available.'' 

            ``Contingency plans are in place,'' said the report on the readiness of nuclear plants
            worldwide for the century rollover. 

            At issue are possible automated system mix-ups when 1999 ticks into 2000 on Jan. 1.
            Many computers were engineered to handle only two digits for the year in date fields
            and could err or crash when ``00'' arrives. 

            Soviet-designed nuclear power plants have been a constant focus of international Y2K
            concern, partly because of the 1986 accident at Chernobyl's No. 4 reactor. The world's
            worst nuclear disaster, it spewed radiation over large parts of Europe. 

            In advanced nuclear power plants, digital systems control operations and monitor
            temperature and possible leaks. Soviet-designed models involve ``very few''
            date-sensitive components, the International Y2K Cooperation Center said. 

            The center, which is based in Washington and funded by the World Bank, said
            Y2K-related errors could ``reduce the ability of operators to analyze and respond'' to
            equipment problems and ''degrade overall plant performance in the weeks following the
            date change.'' 

            ``Over time, such a degradation in performance would reduce the margins of safety and
            efficiency in these plants,'' it said. 

            The report -- which billed itself as having been reviewed by nuclear experts around the
            world -- described grass-roots calls for a general Y2K shutdown as
            ``understandable.'' 

            But, it said, ``We do not believe this step is generally necessary.'' 

            ``Shutdowns create their own risks. In addition, we note that keeping plants on-line
            increases the stability of the electrical distribution grid. 

            ``Because of the extensive Y2K work that has been done and the increased staffing
            and monitoring of nuclear power plant operations over the date change period, we do
            not believe there is a net safety benefit to a general shut down ... during the period,''
            the report said. 

            Overall, it said nuclear power plants worldwide ``will operate as safely as they
            normally do'' during the date change and the days following. 

            The Vienna-based IAEA, the world's nuclear watchdog, will enhance its normal
            warning and emergency notification system during the date change. It will poll its
            contacts in member states shortly after each country enters the new year. 

            In addition, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the U.S.
            Nuclear Regulatory Commission have developed a Y2K Early Warning System, dubbed
            YEWS. 

            YEWS is designed to let nuclear regulators share information on the status of nuclear
            facility operations, local grid stability and telecommunications during the date
            transition.