BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 1
By Nargiz Sadikhova – Trend:
Work on the conversion of research reactors of the National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan (NNC) is continuing, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan told Trend.
According to the ministry, Kazakhstan is implementing projects to minimize highly enriched uranium (HEU) by carrying out work on conversion (transfer of fuel from HEU to low enriched uranium (LEU)) of research reactors.
“Kazakhstan, within its obligations, is implementing projects for the conversion of research reactors in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In this regard, within the 64th session of the IAEA General Conference, a Joint Statement was signed by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the National Nuclear Safety Administration of the US Department of Energy on the successful implementation of the next stage of work to minimize HEU,” the ministry said.
“Completion of work on the conversion of one of the NNC reactors is scheduled for 2023. The main purpose of this work is to convert the fuel from HEU to LEU fuel for research reactors while maintaining and/or improving operational characteristics,” said the ministry.
The ministry also stressed that all activities in the framework of the conversion and minimization of the use of HEU are carried out within the Global Initiative to reduce the threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction and is aimed at strengthening the global security system.