Status of PSA applications at the Laguna Verde NPP

Application of Probabilistic Safety Analysis (PSA) into operation, maintenance, design and licensing activities in Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant is getting an increased interest and importance. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience obtained in the practical application of PSA that have been done or are in process in the Laguna Verde BWR NPP. The level 1 PSA Study was developed during 1986-1988, outside any regulatory commitment, and it was submitted later as part of the response to the IPE requirement. Since then, the Mexican regulatory body (CNSNS) has strongly encouraged the Mexican utility (CFE) the use of the PSA methodology. CFE experiences in making use of PSA in licensing activities and later example applications are described, showing the method employed and the results obtained. An overview of the benefits of PSA and the program for future activities in Laguna Verde are presented. It is concluded that PSA has shown in Laguna Verde to be very useful to attain a better understanding of certain issues, coupled with a deep familiarization on the systems, subsystems and components, smoothing in some instances the operation of the plant, always maintaining a high safety level with an enhanced plant performance. (author). 3 refs