Russia

LOCATION: Obninsk, Kaluga Oblast (106km southwest of Moscow)[1]
Address: 1 ploshchad Bondarenko, Obninsk 249020[2]
Telephone: (084) 399-8250, 399-8914, 399-8834[2]
Fax: (084) 883-3112, 230-2326[2]
Sources:
[1] US General Accounting Office, Nuclear Nonproliferation: Security of Russia's Nuclear Material Improving; Further Enhancements Needed, GAO-01-312 (Washington, DC: February 2001), GAO Web Site, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01312.pdf.
[2] Institute for Physics and Power Engineering Web Site, http://www.ippe.rssi.ru/.]{Entered 10/12/99 MLB}{Updated 5/3/2001 KB}
HOMEPAGE: http://www.ippe.rssi.ru
E-mail: postbox@ippe.rssi.ru
SUBORDINATION: Ministry of Atomic Energy
[V. V. Kuzin et al., "Collaborative Russian-US Work in Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering," Partnership for Nuclear Security: United States/Former Soviet Union Program of Cooperation on Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting (Washington, DC: US Department of Energy, December 1997), Material Protection, Control, and Accounting Program Web Site, http://www.nn.doe.gov/mpca/pubs/fr_inmm.htm.]{Updated 5/3/2001 KB}
ADMINISTRATION:
Director: Anatoliy V. Zrodnikov
[Visit by William Potter to the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, May 1996.] {Entered 12/9/96 KVY}
Reactor Director: Yuriy Stuzhnev
[Adam Tanner, "Russia's First Nuclear Plant Nears 50," Reuters, 1 April 1998.]{Entered 10/14/98 TR}
BACKGROUND:
IPPE was established on 31 May 1946 for the purpose of developing nuclear power technology. The world’s first nuclear power plant, AM-1, was commissioned at IPPE on 27 June 1954.[1] During the 1950s, IPPE developed lead-bismuth liquid metal reactors (LMR) for the navy.[2] The first experimental fast breeder reactor, the BR-1, with a capacity of 100W, was started on 29 April 1955. The BR-5 sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor was started in January 1959. IPPE was instrumental in designing the BN-350 reactor in Aktau, Kazakhstan, and the BOR-60 reactor in Dimitrovgrad.[1] The Russian Methodological Training Center (RMTC) opened at IPPE in November 1998. IPPE employs about 5,000 people.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Welcome," IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/welcome_eng.html.
[2] "Lead-Bismuth Cooled Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/activity/leadbis_eng.html.
[3] US General Accounting Office, Nuclear Nonproliferation: Security of Russia's Nuclear Material Improving; Further Enhancements Needed, GAO-01-312 (Washington, DC: February 2001), GAO Web Site, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01312.pdf.{Updated 5/3/2001 KB}
ACTIVITIES:
IPPE conducts research on the development of nuclear power reactors. Research areas include plasma physics, fast reactors, liquid metal coolants, nuclear fuel cycle issues, VVER and channel reactors, nuclear reactor safety, disposition of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and weapons plutonium management. IPPE also researches the effects of radiation on materials used in reactor construction and produces a number of products using radioisotopes, including dosimeters. The fast-breeder spent fuel reprocessing program used by Mayak Production Association was developed in part by IPPE.[1] Other activities at IPPE include research on the thorium fuel-cycle, actinide transmutation, and research on reactor cores that use MOX fuel.[2] Tsiklotron Enterprise, a producer of commercial isotopes, is part of IPPE.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Welcome," IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/welcome_eng.html.
[2] Vsevolod Sementsov, "Nuclear Submarine Reactor Goes Ashore," Moskovskiye novosti, No. 16 (166), 4 May 1995, p. 18.
[3] Dmitriy Kadosov, "Kontrakt na postavku izotopov v Ameriku: Rossiyskaya radioizotopnaya produktsiya budet ispolzovatsya v kosmicheskikh programmakh SShA," Kommersant-Daily," No. 70, 25 December 1992.{Entered 10/24/2000 KB, Updated 5/3/2001 KB}
STRUCTURE: The Institute consists of eight departments and a commercial enterprise:
Nuclear Physics and Low/Intermediate Energy
Plasma Processes
Physics of Small Reactors
Thermal Physics and Hydrodynamics
Physics of Radiation Damage
Fast Breeder Reactors
Strategy of Nuclear Energy Development
Nuclear Safety and Security[1]
Russian Methodological Training Center (RMTC)
Tsiklotron Industrial Research Lease Enterprise[2,3]
Director: Nikolay Nikolayevich Krasnov[4]
TSIKLOTRON ACTIVITIES: Manufactures sources of gamma radiation based on cadmium and cobalt isotopes, sources of positron radiation based on titanium isotopes, and sources of Bremsstrahlung radiation based on cadmium and cobalt.[2,5]
Sources:
[1] Visit by William Potter to the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, May 1996. {Updated 12/9/96 KVY}
[2] Judith Perera, "The Nuclear Industry in the Former Soviet Union: Transition from crisis to opportunity," Vol. 2, Financial Times Energy Publishing, 1997, p. 37.
[3] Dmitriy Kadosov, "Kontrakt na postavku izotopov v Ameriku: Rossiyskaya radioizotopnaya produktsiya budet ispolzovatsya v kosmicheskikh programmakh SShA," Kommersant-Daily," No. 70, 25 December 1992; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com..
[4] Litsa Rossii 2000, RAY Korporatsiya; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.
[5] "Oborudovaniye radiatsionnogo kontrolya RF, Kaluzhskaya obl.," Vystavki i Yarmarki Rossii i SNG 2000; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.{Updated 10/24/2000 KB}
FISSILE MATERIAL:
IPPE possesses several metric tons (t) of weapons-usable nuclear material.[1] The Fast Critical Assembly (BFS) facility alone contains approximately 0.8t of plutonium and 8.7t of HEU.[2]
Sources:
[1] US General Accounting Office, Nuclear Nonproliferation: Security of Russia's Nuclear Material Improving; Further Enhancements Needed, GAO-01-312 (Washington, DC: February 2001), GAO Web Site, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01312.pdf.
[2] I. P. Matveyenko et al., Physical Inventory of Nuclear Materials on BFS Facility, (Paper presented at MPC&A-2000 Conference, Obninsk, Russia: 22-26 May 2000), IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.obninsk.ru/MPCA2000/pdfs/es2-06.pdf.{Entered 02/12/01 DK}
MPC&A:
IPPE has participated in the US Department of Energy MPC&A program since September 1994.[1] As of February 2001, MPC&A upgrades were completely or partially installed at eight buildings at IPPE.[2]

Initial MPC&A work focused on physical protection and access control upgrades (a video surveillance system, radio communications equipment, portal monitors, and perimeter monitors) at three buildings: the Fast Critical Assembly (BFS) facility, which houses two fast critical assemblies containing 0.8t of plutonium and 8.7t of HEU; the Central Storage Facility (Building 215); and the Technological Laboratory for Fuel Fabrication.[1,3,4]

Subsequent MPC&A work focused on material consolidation. The number of buildings at IPPE containing weapons-usable nuclear material was reduced from 22 to 7 and a nuclear island was constructed.[1,2] In 1995, work began on the "nuclear island" project, in which high-grade fissile materials from the existing central storage facility and other buildings were placed in Building 215, adjacent to the BFS building. The two buildings formed the "island" and shared a common perimeter and intrusion detection and surveillance systems. In 1997, when the island perimeter and other security elements were nearly complete, construction flaws were discovered and the US called for a new island using US designs and equipment. As of spring 2000, the new island was nearly complete. One of the major advantages of the new island is that it includes the Technological Laboratory for Fuel Fabrication and IPPE's central alarm station.[5]

Other MPC&A upgrades at IPPE include the installation of computerized accounting systems; provision of three special vehicles used to transfer nuclear materials; implementation of a bar coding system for nuclear materials; incorporation of high-resolution digital balance technology that is electronically linked to the material accounting databases; introduction of a gamma-ray measurement system to scan BFS fuel assemblies; installation of tamper indicating devices; and the establishment of procedures for conducting physical inventories.[1,4]
Sources:
[1] V. V. Kuzin et al., "Collaborative Russian-US Work in Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering," Partnership for Nuclear Security: United States/Former Soviet Union Program of Cooperation on Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting (US Department of Energy: December 1997), Material Protection, Control, and Accounting Program Web Site, http://www.nn.doe.gov/mpca/pubs/fr_inmm.htm.
[2] US General Accounting Office, Nuclear Nonproliferation: Security of Russia's Nuclear Material Improving; Further Enhancements Needed, GAO-01-312 (Washington, DC: February 2001), GAO Web Site, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01312.pdf.
[3] I. P. Matveyenko et al., Physical Inventory of Nuclear Materials on BFS Facility, (Paper presented at MPC&A-2000 Conference, Obninsk, Russia: 22-26 May 2000), IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.obninsk.ru/MPCA2000/pdfs/es2-06.pdf.
[4] A. Gorbatchev, et. al., Major Results of Cooperation of SSC RF - IPPE with National Laboratories of the United States of America in the Area of Nuclear Material Physical Protection, Control and Accountability: Problems of Improvement and Prospects for Development (Paper presented at MPC&A Conference, Obninsk, Russia: May 2000), IPPE Web Site, http://www.mpca.ippe.ru.
[5] Oleg Bukharin, Matthew Bunn, and Kenneth N. Luongo, Renewing the Partnership: Recommendation for Accelerated Action To Secure Nuclear Material in the Former Soviet Union (Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council: August 2000), pp. 64-65.{Entered 10/20/97 JP}{Updated 1/6/98 PBI, 3/29/01 KB}

For a description of the MPC&A work being performed at this site please see the Department of Energy's December 1997 document, United States/ Former Soviet Union Program of Cooperation on Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting: Partnership for Nuclear Security and the Department of Energy's September 1998 document, United States/ Former Soviet Union Program of Cooperation on Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting: Partnership for Nuclear Security.
REACTORS: Four

Table I: Research Reactors, Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk
Unit	Type	Power	Fuel	Status
AM-1	graphite-water	30MWt, 5MWe	4.4%-10% LEU	Operational
BR-1	fast breeder	0	90% HEU	Operational
BR-10	liquid-sodium cooled fast reactor	8MWt	90% HEU	Operational
BARS-6	pulse	varies	HEU	Operational

REACTOR NAME: AM-1
TYPE: graphite-water
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.]{Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
POWER: 30MWt, 5MWe
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.]{Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
FUEL:
The reactor fuel is based on 4.4% and 10% enriched uranium. As of 1996, the core contained 122 fuel assemblies, 31 with an initial enrichment of 4.4% and 91 with an initial enrichment of 10%. The fissile material content in the assemblies was 120kg.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{updated 12/14/00 DK, 3/20/01 KB}
STATUS: operational
["IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.]{Entered 3/19/01 KB}
OPERATOR: Rosenergoatom
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
SPENT FUEL AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE:
Spent fuel storage capacity is 327 assemblies.[1] As of 1996, spent fuel discharged from the reactor since 1996 was stored in the reactor's fuel pond. This included 297 assemblies containing 1,250kg of fissile material. The reactor has no liquid radioactive waste storage facility.[2]
Sources:
[1] "IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.
[2] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.{updated 12/14/00 DK, 3/19/01 KB}
COMMENTS:
The world's first nuclear power reactor, the AM-1, was designed by the State Specialized Design Institute and commissioned on 27 June 1954.[1,2] After five years as a nuclear power plant, the AM-1 was converted to a research reactor.[2] The AM-1 is used to test fuel rods and reactor materials, to conduct nuclear physics and radiobiology research, and to produce isotopes for medicine and industry.[2,3] As of July 1999 the reactor was being prepared for shutdown, scheduled for 2004. After closure, the reactor may become an exhibit at a planned museum of nuclear power.[4]
Sources:
[1] List of Research Reactors, Critical and Subcritical Assemblies Supervised by Gosatomnadzor, 13 July 1992.
[2] "History," IPPE Website, http://www.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/history_eng.html.
[3] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.
[4] "Na rubezhe vekov," Atompressa, No. 23, July 1999, p.1.{updated 09/28/00 DK, 3/19/01 KB}

Back to IPPE Research Reactors Table

REACTOR NAME: BR-1[1] (also referred to as a critical assembly)[2,3]
Sources:
[1] "Fast Neutron Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://sparc2.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/activity/fast_eng.html.
[2] "IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.
[3] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm. {updated 3/19/01 KB}
TYPE: fast breeder
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
POWER: zero power
["Fast Neutron Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://sparc2.ippe.rssi.ru/welcome/activity/fast_eng.html.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
FUEL: The BR-1 operates on uranium metal fuel with 90% enriched uranium.
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
OPERATOR: IPPE, Minatom
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.]{Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
STATUS: operational
["IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.]{Entered 3/19/01 KB}
COMMENTS:
This BR-1 was commissioned in 1955. It serves as a neutron source for the calibration of detectors, specimens, and instrumentation.
["Fast Neutron Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://www.rssi.ru/IPPE/General/bn.html.] {entered 12/13/00 DK}

Back to IPPE Research Reactors Table

REACTOR NAME: BR-10 (known as BR-5 before 1973)
["Fast Neutron Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://www.rssi.ru/IPPE/General/bn.html.] {entered 12/13/00 DK}
TYPE: liquid-sodium cooled fast reactor
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
POWER: 8MWt
["IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.]{Updated 3/19/01 KB}
FUEL:
The BR-10 operates on 90% HEU fuel.[1] As of 1996, the reactor core held 97 fuel assemblies[1] containing 120kg of fissile material.[2]
Sources:
[1] International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.
[2] NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.{Updated 3/19/01 KB}
OPERATOR: IPPE
["IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.]{Updated 3/19/01 KB}
STATUS: operational
["IAEA Research Reactor Database," International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb.]{Updated 3/19/01 KB}
COMMENTS:
The State Specialized Design Institute designed the BR-10, which was commissioned in 1959 as the BR-5.[1] After reconstruction in 1973, it was recommissioned as BR-10. It underwent reconstruction again in 1983.[2] The reactor has a design load of 150kg of plutonium-239.[3] As of November 1995, two areas of the BR-10 reactor had been tested with weapons-grade plutonium fuel.[4,5,6] On 1 January 1999, the operating license for the BR-10 reactor expired. According to IPPE Director Anatoliy Zrodnikov, IPPE plans to shut down the BR-10 reactor in 2002.[7]
Sources:
[1] List of Research Reactors, Critical and Subcritical Assemblies Supervised by Gosatomnadzor, 13 July 1992.
[2] "Fast Neutron Reactors," IPPE Web Site, http://www.rssi.ru/IPPE/General/bn.html.
[3] Aleksandr Bolsunovskiy, Valeriy Menshchikov, "Chto meshayet zashchitit yadernyye materialy," Moskovskiye novosti, 7 December 1994; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.com.
[4] Valeriy Bogdan, Victor Murogov, Vladimir Kagramanyan, Mikhail Troyanov, "Use Of Plutonium In Russia," Yadernyy kontrol, November 1995, pp. 13-17.
[5] Herman Lomanov, "Lethal Raw Material Could Become Russia's National Property," Moskovskiye novosti, 28 March 1993, p. 8B.
[6] Alexander Bolsunovsky and Valery Menshchikov, "Nuclear Safety Is Inadequate And Outdated," Moskovskiye novosti, 12-15 September 1994, p. 14.
[7] Boris Konovalov, "Byla AES Prostaya, a Stanet Muzeyem," Vechernyaya Moskva, 8 June 1999.{entered 10/20/00 DK, updated 3/22/01 KB}

REACTOR NAME: BARS-6
FUEL: HEU
APPLICATION: Pulsed reactor used in nuclear-pumped laser experiments
STATUS: Operational
["Physics of Nuclear Induced Plasmas and Nuclear Pumped Lasers," IPPE Web Site, http://www.rssi.ru/IPPE/General/laser.html.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN} {Updated 10/7/02 NL}

Back to IPPE Research Reactors Table

CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES: 18

Table II: Critical Assemblies, Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk
Unit	Type	Power	Fuel	Status
AMBF-2	graphite	100W	2% LEU	Operational
BFS-1		200W	HEU, Pu	Operational
BFS-2		100W	HEU, Pu	Operational
BR-1		50Wt	90% HEU	Operational
FG-5		100Wt		Shut down
FS-1M		2W	90-97% HEU	Operational
Grot-2				Shut down
K-1				Shut down
KOBR		300Wt		Shut down
MATR-2	uranium-water	400Wt		Operational
PS-2		200W		Operational
RF-GS			90% HEU	Operational
SGO		100W	90% HEU	Shut down in 1994
Strela		200W	90% HEU	Shut down
Supr				In design phase
T-2		2W	90% HEU	Shut down
V-1M
UKS-1M		pulsed	HEU	Operational

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: AMBF-2
TYPE: graphite
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
POWER: 100Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: 2% enriched U (magnesium intermetallic)
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 03/30/01 DK}
COMMENTS: The AMBF-2 critical assembly became operational in 1984.
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: BFS-1
POWER: 200Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: uranium, plutonium, uranium dioxide
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
APPLICATION:
Research of fast reactor cores.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{Entered 5/4/2001 KB}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
MPC&A:
The BFS facility (housing the BFS-1 and BFS-2 critical assemblies) contains about 800kg of plutonium and 8.7t of HEU. The bulk of nuclear material is in the form of disks with aluminum and steel cladding. According to a physical inventory completed in 2000, the total number of disks, fuel elements, and fuel assemblies housed at the BFS facility is about 91,000 units. Work on MPC&A upgrades started in 1995 under the US Department of Energy MPC&A program. The upgrades included a computerized nuclear material accounting system, a database on item location and passport characteristics, nondestructive assay and measurement systems, access control equipment (closed circuit television, tamper indicating devices, equipment for monitoring radioactive materials movement), and personnel monitoring equipment.
[I. P. Matveyenko et al., Physical Inventory of Nuclear Materials on BFS Facility, (Paper presented at MPC&A-2000 Conference, Obninsk, Russia: 22-26 May 2000), IPPE Web Site, http://www.ippe.obninsk.ru/MPCA2000/pdfs/es2-06.pdf.]{Entered 5/4/2001 KB}
COMMENTS:
This BFS-1 critical assembly became operational in 1961.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: BFS-2
POWER: 100Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: uranium, plutonium, uranium dioxide
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
APPLICATION:
Research of various types of reactor cores.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{Entered 5/4/2001 KB}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
MPC&A: Please see the MPC&A section for BFS-1.
COMMENTS: This critical assembly became operational in 1969.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: BR-1
POWER: 50Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.] {updated 02/01/01 DK}
FUEL: 90% HEU
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.] {updated 02/01/01 DK}
APPLICATION: Fundamental fast breeder reactor experiments
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear physicist, 1 August 1997.]{Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: FS-1M
POWER: 2W
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.] {updated 02/01/01 DK}
FUEL: 90-97% HEU
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.] {updated 02/01/01 DK}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.] {updated 02/01/01 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: Grot-2
STATUS: Shut down
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear scientist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: K-1
STATUS: Shut down
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear scientist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: KOBR
POWER: 300Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{updated 02/01/01 DK}
APPLICATION: Simulation of different types of reactor cores.
[ NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear scientist, 1 August 1997.]{Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
STATUS: Shut down
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{updated 02/01/01 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: MATR-2
TYPE: Uranium-water
POWER: 400Wt
[ International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project # 245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
APPLICATION: Experiments with VVER reactor cores
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear scientist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: PS-2
POWER: 200W
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: RF-GS
POWER: 10Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{Entered 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: 90% HEU (uranyl nitrate solution)
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
APPLICATION:
Research of various types of reactor cores.
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
STATUS: Operational
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: SGO
POWER: 100Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{entered 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: 90% HEU
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project # 245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]
STATUS: Shut down in 1994
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{updated 02/01/01 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: Strela
POWER: 20Wt
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{Updated 5/4/2001 KB}
FUEL: 90% HEU
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project # 245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm.]{entered 12/19/00 DK}
STATUS: Shut down
[NIS Nuclear Profiles interview with Russian nuclear scientist, 1 August 1997.] {Entered 8/4/97 LBN}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: Supr
STATUS: in design phase
[Valeriy Bogdan, Victor Murogov, Vladimir Kagramanyan, Mikhail Troyanov, "Use Of Plutonium In Russia," Yadernyy kontrol, November 1995, pp. 13-17.]

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: T-2
POWER: 2W
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm..]{entered 11/13/00 DK}
FUEL: 90% HEU
[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, "International Science and Technology Center Project #245 Radleg," 1996, Kurchatov Institute Web Site, http://www.kiae.ru/radleg/ch6e.htm..]{entered 11/13/00 DK}
STATUS: Shut down
["IAEA Research Reactors Database," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/.]{updated 02/01/01 DK}

CRITICAL ASSEMBLY NAME: UKS-1M
TYPE: fast-pulsed
FUEL: HEU
APPLICATION:
The UKS-1M critical assembly simulates a nuclear pumped laser system. It is used to study non-stationary neutron transfers in coupled fast pulsed and thermal reactors.
["UKS-1M Critical Assembly," IPPE Web Site, http://www-tpl.ippe.rssi.ru/device/uks_a.html.] {entered 12/22/00 DK}

ARCHIVED IPPE DEVELOPMENTS (For more recent developments, see the Research Facilities Assemblies Developments file):

7/99: AM-1 REACTOR TO SHUT DOWN AFTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the world's first nuclear power reactor and the 10th anniversary of the Russian Nuclear Society took place in Obninsk at the end of June 1999. According to IPPE Director Dr. Anatoliy Zrodnikov, IPPE now uses the AM-1 reactor primarily to obtain information on the durability of materials used in reactor construction. The reactor is being prepared to be shut down in 2004. The Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy agreed to allocate the necessary funding to shut down the reactor, which may then be used as a museum.
["Na rubezhe vekov," Atompressa, No. 23 July 1999, p.1.]{entered 9/22/00 DK}

11/4/98: RMTC OFFICIALLY OPENED
On 4 November 1998, the Russian Methodological Training Center (RMTC) for Material Control and Accountability opened in Obninsk, Russia.
[Yuriy Snegirev, "Lovushka dlya yadernykh terroristov," Izvestiya online edition, http://win.www.online.ru/rproducts/izvestiya-izvestiya-year/, 6 November 1998.] {Entered 12/9/98 LBB}

4/1/98: CRITICS DEMAND CLOSURE OF IPPE REACTOR
Critics have called for the closure of the world’s first nuclear power reactor at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) in Obninsk, stating that it is too old to continue safe operation. Although the reactor has not produced electricity since 1968, its operators use it for experiments and to heat the local supply of hot water; continued operation costs $1 million a year. The reactor's spent fuel rods used to be shipped to Siberia for reprocessing, but insufficient funding has forced its operators to store the rods on site, beneath the reactor core’s floor, while new uranium rods "hang on the walls for future use." In 1997, Gosatomnadzor official Adolf Safronov stated that the government should either close or upgrade the IPPE reactor and other old reactors near Moscow for safety reasons. Reactor director Yuriy Stuzhnev stated that Obninsk has received governmental authorization to continue operation until at least 2001. Stuzhenev expressed hope for the reactor to continue operation until its 50th anniversary in 2004 as a symbol for the nuclear industry.
[Adam Tanner, "Russia's First Nuclear Plant Nears 50," Reuters, 1 April 1998.] {Entered 10/13/98 LBN}

12/96: UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA COOPERATE TO IMPROVE NUCLEAR MATERIAL PROTECTION, CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING AT OBNINSK FACILITY
US national nuclear laboratories and the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering at Obninsk are creating a modern and nuclear materials security system. The IPPE is concerned about nuclear safety, particularly because of its proximity to Moscow. IPPE Director of the facility Anatoliy Zrodnikov hopes that the new system of Material Protection, Control And Accounting (MPC&A) will serve as a model for other nuclear facilities in Russia. IPPE plans to create a "nuclear island" to store sensitive nuclear materials such as plutonium. The "island" would be separated from the rest of the facility, and equipped with television tracking systems. Each building will have only one door to serve as both entrance and exit, heavily monitored, and backed up by several lines of inspection. Sensitive equipment will be used to detect and monitor radiation, and all visitors will be weighed upon entrance and exit. First Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of the Institute Viktor Kuzin is in charge of the new security measures, which IPPE expects will greatly decrease the risk of theft of nuclear materials there.
[Boris Konovalov, "Radiation in a 'Stone Sack': Moscow's First Line of Defense Against Nuclear Terrorism Is in Obninsk," Nezavisimaya gazeta, 5 December 1996, p. 6; in "Cooperation With US in Nuclear Safety," FBIS-SOV-97-022-S.]{Entered 8/6/97 LK}

3/26/96: NEW MPC&A SYSTEM INSTALLED AT OBNINSK
A new computerized MPC&A system has been installed at the Institute as a result of the US-Russian MPC&A lab-to-lab program, launched by the US Department of Energy in 1994. The MPC&A upgrade at IPPE is one of the program's three pilot projects, the other two are being conducted at the Kurchatov Institute and Arzamas-16. The new MPC&A system uses Russian and US equipment and methods to monitor and keep records on uranium and plutonium stored at the "Fast Physics Facility."
["Na uran i plutoniy nadeli uzdu," Rossiyskaya Gazeta 26 March 1996, p. 8; Mark Mullen, "Status Report on US-Russian Laboratory-to-Laboratory Cooperation in Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting," Los Alamos National Laboratory, 6 August 1996.]{Updated 11/27/96 KVY, JL}

3/22/96: IPPE TO RECEIVE US FUNDS FOR MPC&A IMPROVEMENTS
IPPE signed 46 contracts with US national laboratories to be carried out in 1996. IPPE will receive US equipment and technology, worth $2 million, designed to prevent nuclear diversion. Minatom plans to install similar MPC&A systems at other nuclear facilities in Russia.
["The World's First Nuclear Power Plant Gets Impermeable Fence," Izvestiya, 22 March 1996, p. 1.]

2/13/96: FSB DENIES GERMAN REPORT THAT STOLEN PU ORIGINATED IN IPPE
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) denied German press reports that the FSB had admitted that plutonium seized at Munich airport in 8/94 had been stolen from IPPE, Obninsk. According to the FSB, it had been misquoted in a letter sent to the German government requesting that samples of theplutonium seized in Munich be sent to Moscow for testing in order to determine the origin of the material. The FSB criticized Germany for failing to respond to the request, and accused the German press of fostering the impression that Russia cannot protect its nuclear materials. The FSB had previously accused the German BND intelligence service of staging the operation in order to justify its continued existence. (For more information on this case please see the NIS Nuclear Trafficking database.
[Scott Parrish, "FSB Denies Admitting Smuggled Plutonium In Germany Came From Russia," OMRI Daily Digest, no.32, pt. I, 14 February 1996, p.2; Doug Clarke and Penny Morvant, "FSB: Smuggled Plutonium Was From Russia," OMRI Daily Digest, no.31, pt. I, 13 February 1996, p.2.]

2/8/96: POWERFUL LASER TEST CONDUCTED
An experiment on merging laser and nuclear energy has been successfully conducted at Obninsk, with the help of a compact impulse reactor produced in Chelyabinsk-70. The reactor served as a neutron generator.
Sources:
[1] Yadernyy kontrol, April 1996, p. 6.
[2] Boris Konovalov, "Nuclear Lasers Without Explosions," Yadernyy kontrol, 8 February 1996, p. 9.

10/18/95: NUNN-LUGAR FUNDS USED IN INSTALLING MONITORING SYSTEM
Rossiyskaya gazeta reported that a new system to monitor stored uranium and plutonium was installed by a US-Russian group at Obninsk. The system includes perimeter alarms and digital inventory control. Funding for the system was provided by Nunn-Lugar appropriations. The installation was described as successful by Victor Murogov, Director of the Institute.
[Scott Parrish, "Security System Installed At Uranium Storage Facility," OMRI Daily Digest, 18 October 1995, p. 2; Boris Konovalov, "Every Isotope Is Accounted For," Izvestiya, 14 November 1995, p. 5.]

9/21/95: NEW MPC&A PROGRAM TESTED
US and Russian experts tested a new materials protection, control and accounting system at the Obninsk institute, which may be installed at other facilities in Russia and throughout the world. The prototype system includes a computerized materials inventory and accounting database, a video monitoring system, and portal monitors. The test is part of the US-Russian Lab-to-Lab Nuclear Materials Protection, Control and Accounting Program, which began in April 1994, and is currently being conducted by six US laboratories and twelve Russian institutes and nuclear enterprises.
[Yadernyy Kontrol, October 1995, p. 20; Anatoliy Shapovalov, "Obninsk Bridle," Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 18 October 1995, p. 7; Jim Danneskiold, Los Alamos National Laboratory, "US, Russian Scientists Demonstrate Nuclear Materials Security System At Russian Power Institute," 21 September 1995; "US-Russian Scientific Team Installs Nuke Material Control At Russian Lab," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense Monitor,13 October 1995, p. 1.]

8/95: IPPE NEGOTIATING WITH US LABS ON FISSILE MATERIAL CONTROL
The Russian Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) concluded negotiations with a US delegation consisting of representatives from the five US national laboratories on cooperation in the field of fissile material control and accounting. In fulfillment of a prior agreement, the United States provided the Institute with sensitive equipment for controlling activities with fissile material. A center has been created for training specialists in material control and accounting under the auspices of the Nuclear Safety department at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering.
["Atomic Energy Industry For Russia Is The Only Option To Stop Being A Raw Material Appendage," Yadernyy Kontrol, August 1995, pp. 8-11].

8/94: REPORTS STATE THAT STOLEN PU IS FROM IPPE
According to reports, a sample of diverted plutonium seized in Munich had been taken from IPPE. (For more information on this case please see the CNS Illicit Transactions Involving Nuclear Materials from the Former Soviet Union database, available on CD-ROM or on the CNS Web server at: http://cns.miis.edu/db/nis/.)
["Smuggling And Testing," Core Issues, no. 6, December 1995-January 1996.]

Last updated 8 July 2004

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This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.