A multifunctional radiochemical research facility under construction at the site of the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR), in Dimitrovgrad, Russia is to be included in the planned International Research Centre based on the multipurpose sodium-cooled fast neutron research reactor (MBIR) also being built at NIIAR), according to Vyacheslav Pershukov, director of the innovation management at Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom. The radiochemical facility, scheduled for completion in 2018, will be used for testing technologies aimed at closing the nuclear fuel cycle.
MBIR, the world's most powerful multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor is being implemented as part of the federal target programme "New-Generation Nuclear Energy Technologies for 2010-2015 and up to 2020". The reactor is scheduled for start-up in 2020. The thermal power of the new sodium-cooled reactor will be 150MWt. MBIR's design includes three independent loops that can be used to test different coolants such as gas, lead, molten salt, and others, and will make possible material testing in those different environments. Last year, NIIAR was recognised as an international research centre during the 60th Annual Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference. The NIIAR site hosts six different research reactors in addition to MBIR.
