International Seminar on Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management

November 2025, Astana. The National Nuclear Center of RK took part in a seminar dedicated to the development of nuclear infrastructure for the fuel cycle and the management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and radioactive waste (RW). The event brought together representatives of relevant organizations from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries, IAEA experts, as well as specialists from regulatory bodies and industry structures of Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Armenia. 

During the seminar, the participants discussed the approaches of the CIS member states to forming national policies for SNF and RW management and key issues of strategic planning as well, also the development of modern technologies in this field. 

Particular attention was paid to international safety standards, examples of implementing modern radioactive waste management practices, and an analysis of regulatory frameworks in the CIS countries. 

Specialists from the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan delivered a presentation on the management of spent fuel  from the BN-350 reactor, and also outlined the current spent fuel management concept for the research reactors of the RSE NNC RK.  

Following the seminar, proposals were developed to enhance cooperation on the field of spent nuclear fuel management within the framework of the CIS Basic Organization, which will be reflected in a jointly prepared document.