Russia's new high flux beam research reactor, PIK, at the BP Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PIYaF), has been transferred to the customer after Titan-2 completed modernization and upgrading.
In late December, regulator Rostechnadzor's commission held the final inspection of the facility. Based on its results, the commission issued "a statement of conformance of the second and third start-up complexes, as completed, with the requirements of technical regulations, regulatory acts and design documentation."
A total of 38 buildings and structures totalling 65,000 square metres have been built at the facility. First criticality was attained in February 2011 at the first start-up complex. Since 2012 Titan-2 (part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom) has worked to modernize the research facility which is now expected to start in 2018-2019.
Construction of PIK began in 1978 but the project was suspended after the Chernobyl accident and then faced further delays due to lack of funding. The reactor cost is estimated at RUB30bn ($974m).
