Future utilization of the research reactor IRT in Sofia after its reconstruction

The research reactor IRT-2000 (IRT) in Sofia to the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE) was built and put into operation in 1962. It was temporarily shut down in 1989 for improvement. The reconstruction of the IRT is being carried out under the decision of the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria from 2001. The strategy for sustainable utilization considers the IRT as a national base and aims to satisfy the society needs for: education of students and training of graduated physicists and engineers in the field of nuclear science and nuclear energy; implementation of applied methods and research; development and preservation of nuclear science, skills, and knowledge. The IRT Technical Design is being in process of elaboration. The IRT will be reconstructed into a reactor of thermal power 200 kW with low enriched fuel, with uranium-235 enrichment below 20%, with ten vertical and seven horizontal experimental channels which will supply maximal fast neutron flux about 3. 1012n/cm2s, and maximal thermal flux about 8.1012n/cm2s, with a channel which will supply epithermal neutron flux about 0,9.109 n/cm2s suitable for medical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) application