Rosatom has completed the first stage of design work for a molten salt research reactor (IZhSR – Issledovatelskovo Zhidko Solevovo Reaktora), which includes the development of materials for the main technological solutions for the relevant section of the design documentation. Since 2020, development of IZhSR has been underway at the Mining & Chemical Combine (GKhK – Gorno Khimiheskovo Kombinata) in Zheleznogorsk.
The work was organised within the framework of the federal project on new materials and technologies within the framework of the Comprehensive Programme for the Development of Engineering, Technology & Scientific Research (RTTN – Razvitii Tekhniki Tekhnologii I Nauchnikh Issledovanii) in cooperation with enterprises and organisations in the industry, and also since 2025 within the framework of the National Project New Nuclear and Energy Technologies. Scientific management is provided by the Kurchatov Institute.
Commenting on the work done, Vasily Tinin, Rosatom’s Director for State Policy in the Field of Radioactive Waste, Used Fuel & Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation Hazardous Facilities noted: “Implementation of the project will take the environmental safety of nuclear energy to a new level – a big step towards waste-free nuclear technologies. The main task of the technology that we are preparing to develop, which relates to fourth-generation nuclear energy technologies, will be creation of a new system for the disposal (afterburning) of hazardous radioactive substances – minor actinides – which are produced during reprocessing of used fuel from VVER and RBMK reactors.”
During the first stage of design work security solutions were developed for the IZhSR including a number of technological processes for the functioning of the reactor and its systems. A brief description of the design of the nuclear installation elements was also developed and the complex for preparing the initial fuel. This information will form the basis of the environmental impact assessment the of IZhSR on the preliminary safety assessment.
