Press Release: Plant for Processing of BN 350 Reactor System Liquid-Metal Coolant

Today, on March 4, 2004, a ceremony of the first stone laying into the foundation of the future plant for processing of liquid-metal coolant of BN-350 reactor system in Aktau city (Mangystauskaia oblast) was hold within the frame of the US State Department in respect to nuclear weapons non-proliferation (NDF, the USA). The project cost is estimated $3 mln.

In the ceremony there take part James Canon IV, the Head of the Project of the US Ministry of Energy, Peter Wells, Head of Programs of Argon National Laboratory, Baurzhan Ibrayev, Director of 'MAEC-Kazatomprom' Ltd and Gennady Pugachev, Director of BN-350 atomic reactor.

The plant is designed for processing of 1300 tons of liquid-metal coolant (liquid sodium) into alkali. The liquid sodium processing plant construction is planned to be finished by the end of 2004. Commissioning is scheduled for April-May 2005.

Further it is planned to construct the second plant for transformation of alkali into a form of geocement stone for long-term storage. The project will be entirely financed by the US State Department within the frame of non-proliferation of nuclear weapon.

We remind that the atomic reactor BN-350 is the first fast reactor in the world with passport operating life 20 years. At present, it is also the first one which is being decommissioned. BN-350 is involved into structure of 'MAEC-Kazatomprom' Ltd., which in its turn is a subsidiary of National Atomic Company 'Kazatomprom'.