Bolivian nuclear research centre to be completed ahead of schedule

4 April 2019


The Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) has approved the detailed design documentation for the construction of administrative and residential facilities for a Centre for Nuclear Research and Technology (CNRT), Rusatom Overseas (part of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom) announced on 27 March.

The documents relate to the administrative building, training centre, utility infrastructure and other facilities. In December, detailed design documentation acts were agreed for two other facilities - the Multipurpose Irradiation Centre and the Public Catering Complex.

General del Instituto Especializado Estatal de Diseño (GSPI), operating under Rusatom Overseas, is in charge of construction. Igor Dvoriashin, Project Chief Engineer from GSPI said this involved more than 200 documentation papers. The EPC contract for the construction of the CNTR  in El Alto was signed in September 2017. Construction of stage 1 facilities, the Cyclotron Radiopharmacy Preclinical Complex (CRPC) building  is already underway and was scheduled for completion in 2020. However, Russia plans to finish construction ahead of contract terms, by the end of 2019.

Detailed design documentation for construction of stage 2 facilities, the administrative and residential area, has been approved by the customer and foundation work has begun on the Multipurpose Irradiation Centre (MIC) building. The manufacture of MIC core equipment has already begun.

Design and licensing documentation is being developed for the radiobiology and radioecology laboratory and plasma physics laboratory (stage 3 facilities), as well as the research reactor, neutron activation analysis laboratory and isotope laboratory (stage 4 facilities). Sergey Musayelian, the Bolivia Construction Project Manager at Rusatom Overseas, said: “By the end of 2019, we will have built the Cyclotron Radiopharmacy Preclinical Complex, which means the ?entre will begin operation this year. We will complete all construction by 2022.”  

The Bolivian nuclear research centre will be equipped with a 200kW VVER research reactor, a multipurpose irradiation centre based on a gamma installation, a cyclotron radiopharmacy complex, engineering facilities and various research laboratories. The centre will enable radiation technologies to be used in agriculture, healthcare, industry and other important areas.   The site chosen for the centre by the Bolivian authorities is the highest in the world at 4000m for any nuclear facility.


Photo: Center for Nuclear Technology Research and Development on the territory of Bolivia (Credit: Rusatom Overseas)



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