Research reactors can be used for a variety of purposes, from training nuclear engineers and conducting scientific research, to producing radioisotopes and developing advanced materials. But before a country can embark on a new research reactor project, it must first have in place the proper infrastructure.
“The IAEA provides guidance on issues in establishing and implementing research reactor projects. These include legal and regulatory frameworks, human resource development, safeguards, safety and security, among others,” said Andrey Sitnikov, Technical Lead for research reactor nuclear infrastructure and capacity building at the IAEA. “The IAEA’s Milestones approach helps countries effectively and holistically develop their research reactor programmes so they can safely and reliably utilize their research reactors.”
Milestones approach
The Milestones approach is a comprehensive scheme divided into three phases that lay out what a country must accomplish in 19 areas of infrastructure development, including nuclear safety, human resources, financing and management. It can be used both for nuclear power programmes and research reactor programmes.
While the general contours of the approach are largely similar for research reactor programmes and nuclear power programmes, the main distinction is related to the level of utilization: research reactors have a wide range of applications, whereas nuclear power reactors are primarily used to generate electricity. This means that when a country uses the Milestones approach for research reactors, it must first determine what the research reactor will be used for. Knowing the research reactor’s purpose is essential not only to identify the specific infrastructure elements required, such as the types of specialists to hire and facilities to build, but also to effectively apply the Milestones approach.
The INIR-RR mission has helped us identify areas for further infrastructure development, including our radioactive waste management strategy and our regulatory framework.