The Commission of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes has approved a draft programme for joint research. The work will be based on the unique multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor (MBIR), under construction in Russia. The programme is covering the period from 2029 to 2040.
MBIR (Mnogotselevoi Bistrii Issledovatelskii Reaktor) is being built at the Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR – Nauchno Issledovatelskii Institut Atomnikh Reaktorov) in Dimitrovgrad. The 150 MWt multi-purpose sodium-cooled fast neutron MBIR reactor will be the world’s largest facility of its kind.
It is expected to provide the nuclear industry with a modern and technologically advanced research infrastructure for the coming 50 years. Its unique technical characteristics will make it possible to solve a wide range of research problems to support the development new competitive and safe NPPs, including fast reactors based on closing the nuclear fuel cycle. Research time needed at the new reactor will be several times less in comparison with the currently operating installations.
Rosatom has promoted development of cooperation based on the MBIR reactor including with the Atom-CIS Commission. Both scientific organisations of the CIS countries and Rosatom research institutes took part in developing the programme. Key areas of research will include testing new materials for new generation reactor plants, developing promising types of nuclear fuel and fuel cycle closure technologies, developing isotopes for medicine and industry, and fundamental and applied research using neutron beams.
“By joining forces at the MBIR site, the CIS countries will be able to act as a single scientific and technical team,” noted Maxim Dranov, Deputy Director General the MCI MBIR Consortium. “This will make it possible not only to adapt to global changes, but also to actively shape the global agenda in the field of nuclear energy of a new technological order.”
He added that an important aspect is the international status of the MBIR Reactor Research Centre is that experts from 41 organisations around the world, including countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, are already participating in its work. “Such a vast geographical outreach creates an unprecedented level of global cooperation and strengthens the position of MBIR as a key element of the international research ecosystem,” he said
Based on the MBIR reactor an International Research Centre (IRC) was established in the form of an international consortium. Its participants have the opportunity, as a matter of priority, to conduct experiments necessary for national civil nuclear programmes. The MCI MBIR Consortium welcomes new participants.
