Year
2007
Abstract
The Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) operates a 10 MW research reactor located 30 km from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the largest facility of this kind in Central Asia. The INP is becoming the primary nuclear research and isotope production facility for the region. The facility maintains fresh and irradiated nuclear fuel storage facilities to support continued reactor operations, as well as facilities to store radioactive sources. Material protection, control and accounting (MPC&A) upgrades at INP were completed in September 2002 by a joint U.S., Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan team. The Foton Facility is an IAEA Category II facility near Tashkent. It has a small research reactor (15 KW capacity) and two gamma irradiators. Foton also maintains on-site storage of irradiated fuel. Foton upgrades were completed in April 2005 jointly by the U.S. and Uzbekistan. As upgrades were completed at both facilities, operation and maintenance of each upgrade was initiated. The following seven operations and maintenance elements are being incorporated: MPC&A site organization; site operating procedures; human resource management and site training; operational cost analysis; equipment maintenance, repair and calibration; performance testing and operational monitoring; and MPC&A system configuration management. The status and plans for operation and maintenance of MPC&A upgrades at the INP and Foton facilities will be discussed.