BN-350 as a firstling of atomic power engineering in RK

The fast reactors are economically expedient only if they are used for two purposes: heat generation and plutonium build-up for the nuclear power engineering.The energetic start-up of BN-350 reactor was conducted in July 1973. Its design life is 20 years. After the lifetime had been over in July 1993, its further operation was subject to the annual decisions about prolongation of the lifetime by one calendar year. Since December 1998, the reactor is being shutdown.When decommissioning the BN-350 plant, a significant amount of expenses will be committed to the activity related to handling with different kinds of radioactive wastes and metal-liquid coolants of the first and second circuits, and to the fire, radiation and overall safety. Therefore, solution of the issues of handling with sodium, when it is removed from the circuits, processed, and when the circuits are washed off of sodium, is very important during the BN-350 reactor plant preservation.Specialists of BN-350 developed a program on the primary engineering measures on preservation of equipment and on maintenance of the reactor under nuclear and radiation safety conditions. Implementation of the measures is complicated first of all due to the lack of financing and of the adequate experience in decommissioning of such type of the reactor