SAFIR: The Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Power Plant Safety 2003-2006: Interim Report

SAFIR 2003-2006 is the present Finnish public research programme on nuclear power plant safety. The programme is administrated by the steering group that has been nominated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (KTM). The steering group of SAFIR consists of representatives from Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Ministry of Trade and Industry (KTM), Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO), Fortum Oyj (Fortum), National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes), Helsinki University of Technology and Lappeenranta University of Technology. The six key research areas of SAFIR are 1) reactor fuel and core, 2) reactor circuit and structural safety, 3) containment and process safety functions, 4) automation, control room and IT, 5) organisations and safety management and 6) risk-informed safety management. The research programme of the year 2004 involved 23 research projects, whose volume varied from a few person months to several person years. The total volume of the programme in 2004 was 4.9 million euros and 35 person years. The research in the programme is performed primarily by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT). Other research units responsible for the projects include Lappeenranta University of Technology, Fortum Nuclear Services Ltd and Helsinki University of Technology. In addition, there are a few minor subcontractors in some projects. The programme management structure involves the steering group, a reference group in each of the six research areas and a number of ad hoc groups in the various research areas. This report gives a summary of the results of the SAFIR programme for the period January 2003 - October 2004. During this period the programme produced 256 publications, four Doctoral, one Licentiate and six Master Thesis. The total volume of the programme in 2003-2004 was approximately 9 M and 67 person years.