NASB, Rosatom agree preliminary configuration of Belarusian nuclear research center

MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) – The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Rosatom have agreed a preliminary configuration of the future nuclear research and technology center that will be built around a research reactor. Director of OOO Rusatom Bel (Rosatom's country office in Belarus) Stanislav Levitsky mentioned it in BelTA's press center on 15 December.

Stanislav Levitsky said: “The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the state corporation Rosatom are discussing the construction of a nuclear research reactor based on the united energy and nuclear research institute Sosny. We've agreed a preliminary configuration of the future nuclear research and technology center that will be built around a multipurpose research reactor. The production of the isotopes that healthcare industry may use is one of the key applications for such reactors. Isotope products need to be processed in order to make targeted radiopharmaceutical agents. But the capacity of a research reactor has to be calculated with future prospects in mind. In other words, it is necessary to work out the concept with a large planning corridor.”

Stanislav Levitsky pointed out that any research reactor is quite an expensive piece of equipment. In order to allow various countries to carry out such research projects, Rosatom is implementing a project to build an international research center around a multipurpose fast-neutron reactor. “Teams from seven countries are working there now. We are happy to invite colleagues from the Sosny institute to also participate in these projects,” the executive noted.

Tamara Korbut, Deputy Director General for Science of the united energy and nuclear research institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, pointed out that research reactors are used in over 50 countries across the globe. In comparison with nuclear power plants a research reactor is less complicated from the technical point of view and from the operational point of view. A research reactor opens up quite a lot of possibilities. It can be used to make radio isotopes, which do not exist naturally. A research reactor can be used to diagnose and treat cancer patients. A research reactor helps develops science-intensive manufacturing, various branches of the production sector. It helps study the structure of materials, the radiation tolerance of electronic products. It helps test materials and products, develop and introduce technologies for irradiating agricultural raw materials and food products. “In other words, this area has a lot of promise. We actively cooperate with our colleagues from Rosatom in this regard,” she said.