Research Reactors of Ukraine

Ukraine today operates two nuclear research reactors: WWR-M (total capacity of 10 MW), which is located on the site of the Kyiv Nuclear Research Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and IR-100 (total capacity of 200 kW), which is located on the site of Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Industry. Both of them have been in operation since the 1960s. The operation project period of WWR-M for which it is licensed is limited to 31 December 2013. In order to improve safety at WWR-M several modernization projects, development of the reactor vessel and the first loop equipment ageing management programme were conducted. According to the license for operation of IR-100 the operation period of the reactor depends upon results from assessments of critical safety elements such as the tank, control and protection system, cable lines and electrical switchgear. Currently the operation period of this equipment has been justified until 2013. (author)