National Nuclear Center is crucial for East Kazakhstan region - Danial Akhmetov

The Minister of Energy and Akim of East Kazakhstan region got acquainted with the work of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Kurchatov town, operating on the basis of the military-industrial complex of the former Semipalatinsk test site.

In particular, Nurlan Nogayev and Danial Akhmetov visited the research reactors of the Baikal-1 complex, as well as the complexes of the IGR research reactor and the KTM testing tokamak.

While visiting the facilities, the members of the delegation acknowledged that noticeable progress had been made in the implementation of a large-scale project for the conversion of the IVG 1.M reactor of the Baikal-1 complex. In accordance with the IAEA requirements, this project provides for a reduction in fuel enrichment to> 20%. Following successful completion of the work, the specialists will proceed with the launch and commissioning of the reactor. Currently, experiments simulating severe accidents are being carried out at the IGR research reactor complex. For more than 30 years, a large amount of unique information has been accumulated here, which is necessary to improve the safety of promising reactors.

After visiting the facilities, Skim of East Kazakhstan region stressed the need to create comfortable living and leisure conditions for NNC RK employees.

“The study of the peaceful atom is crucial for Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan science. Moreover, the work of the Nuclear Center will have a positive effect on our region. For this reason, we are considering the issue to build a modern health-improving center and other social and cultural facilities for the employees of the Center and residents of Kurchatov town,” said Danial Akhmetov.

It is worth noting that on August, 29 Kazakhstan is marking the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site. According to the Minister of Energy, by this date, in order to ensure nuclear and radiation safety on the contaminated lands of the test range, it is planned to adopt the Law “On the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone.”

“To date, the specialists of the National Nuclear Center have completed a comprehensive radioecological survey of the test range territory. A large amount of information has been received, there is an understanding of the problems of this zone and the prospects for using its territory for the needs of the state,” N. Nogayev said.

For reference: The construction of the SNTP, the largest nuclear test site in the world, began in 1947. Its total area was 18.500 square meters. km. The first test of a nuclear weapon in the USSR was carried out at this test site on August 29, 1949. The last explosion took place on October 19, 1989. On August 29, 1991, the Semipalatinsk test site was closed by the Decree of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.