Lifetime-Management and Operational Lifetime Extension at Paks Nuclear Power Plant

The design life of the NPP PAKS WWER-440/213 units is 30 years. Formally the design life limits the operational licence. The condition of the equipment after almost 20 years of operation is excellent. The lifetime management activity of the Paks NPP provides a proper basis for the continuation of safe operation. The current Hungarian Nuclear Regulations allow the extension of the operation licence of the NPP Units beyond the design life. To prove the acceptability of continuation of operation the Licensee have to prepare a Licence Renewal Application not later than 5 years before the expiration of the design lifetime. The Licence Renewal process based mainly on USNRC approach taking into account the special features of the WWER-440/213 Units. Summary of the preconditions of the Licence Renewal and the activity for the preparation of the operational lifetime extension are reported in the paper