Advances in IGR Reactor Conversion Program

A working meeting took place at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan from January 26 to 30, involving representatives from the United States Department of Energy (DoE), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). 

Discussions focused on the next steps for the project to convert the IGR research reactor to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. 

The Kazakhstani side presented the results of completed work on the development of new fuel for this reactor. This included research materials on reactor-grade graphite, as well as, fabricated experimental fuel assemblies and full-scale experimental graphite blocks containing low-enriched uranium. 

During the working meeting, participants visited the site of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, where experts discussed matters concerning the scaling up of the low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel production technology and its introduction into industrial manufacturing. 

The outcomes of the meeting included an agreement on further actions to enhance the reactor fuel production technology, ensuring the reliable of reactor and safe functioning. Furthermore, additional sensitivity analyses of the performance of IGR reactor to potential allowable variations in LEU fuel specifications have been scheduled.