|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This is an archived page. Please visit the new Ukraine country profileUkraine: Nuclear Research Facilities LOCATION: Slavutych (Research Laboratory), Kiev (Administration) DIRECTOR: Valeriy Mykolaevych Glygalo DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Anatoly N. Nosovsky BACKGROUND: The Chornobyl Center was established by Presidential Decree on 26 April 1996. It supports international scientific research on the consequences of nuclear and radiation accidents, the environmental rehabilitation of polluted territories, and the closure of nuclear facilities.[1] In addition, the Center addresses issues related to waste management, spent fuel, and operational safety in nuclear power plants. The Center also provides assistance in the development and maintenance of "in-country" expertise in the nuclear sciences.[2] The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety, the Ministry of Chornobyl Affairs, Derzhkomatom, the State Committee on Scientific Questions, and other organizations will be involved in the Center's work. US government agencies became involved in establishing the Center since May 1995, when Ukrainian Minister of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety Yuriy Kostenko and US Ambassador to Ukraine William Miller signed an agreement to create the facility. In addition, a US-Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the United States' active participation in the center's creation was signed on 26 April 1996. However, Ukraine was originally reluctant to take formal steps in order to establish the facility due to financial difficulties and political considerations. Therefore, the decision to do so required a certain amount of US diplomatic pressure coupled with financial aid.[1] At a meeting of the Gore-Kuchma Commission in July 1998, the United States and Ukraine formally signed an agreement on the Chornobyl Center, which provides for cooperation in field research and analysis on dosimetry, radionuclide concentrations, and biological effects of radioactive contamination to be conducted at the International Radioecology Laboratory (IRL).[3] (A full-text copy of the Chornobyl Center brochure is available in our full-text section.) Sources: [1] CISNP Communications with Ukrainian official, May 1996. {Entered 9/3/96 GN} [2] "Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Radioecology," Center Brochure, undated, circa 1998. {Updated 9/16/98 SP} [3] "Text: U.S.-Ukraine Agreement on Chornobyl Center Radioecology Lab," USIA Washington File, online edition http://www.usia.gov/products/washfile/eu.shtml, 24 July 1998. {Updated 12/28/98 SP} CHERNOBYL CENTER DEVELOPMENTS: 12/11/2000: FRANCE, GERMANY SIGN MEMORANDUM WITH UKRAINE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CHORNOBYL CENTER Ukraine, Germany, and France signed a memorandum of support for and participation in Chornobyl Center activities concerning problems of nuclear safety, radioactive waste, and the environment. Each nation is committed under the memorandum to provide support to the center in the form of financing, resources, and personnel. The memorandum defines activities of the Center, including increasing security at nuclear facilities, measures for nuclear waste and spent fuel handling, and reducing the effects of the Chornobyl disaster.[1] Chornobyl Center Director Valeriy Glygalo said that a fundamental goal of the center is to establish a computer database to provide information on these issues.[2] Sources: [1] "Pravitelstva Ukrainy, FRG i Frantsii podpisali memorandum o podderzhke tsentra po problemam yadernoy bezopasnosti," UNIAN, No. 50, 11-17 December 2000. [2] "Nauchnyy potentsial Mezhdunarodnogo chernobylskogo tsentra pozvolyayet reshit voprosy bezopasnosti ukrainskikh atomnykh stantsiy," UNIAN, No. 50, 11-17 December 2000. {Entered 2/19/01 RG} 9/98:UNITED STATES FUNDS CHORNOBYL CENTER PROJECTS
LOCATION: Kharkiv (Kharkhov in Russian), with a second site located in the Kharkiv suburb of Pyatikhatki. ADMINISTRATION: Director: Volodymyr I. Lapshyn ["NSC Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology," NSC Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology web site, http://linda.kipt.kharkov.ua/main page.html.] {Updated 3/4/99 SK} Deputy Director: Valeriy Mikhailov BACKGROUND: The Institute was founded in 1928 to conduct research in nuclear physics and solid-state physics. In 1993, a presidential decree changed the status of the Institute to that of a National Scientific Center. As set forth in another presidential decree dated 15 January 1996, KIPT's primary lines of research include: 1) solid-state physics; 2) plasma physics and thermonuclear fusion; 3) nuclear physics, including the physics of electromagnetic interaction and the physics of electronic accelerators; 4) plasma electronics and high-current beam physics; 5) the physics and technology of heavy-particle accelerators; 6) new accelerator methods; and 7) theoretical physics. The KIPT has made much progress in developing technology in these fields since 1991. However, research has been slowed by the Institute's economic difficulties. It has yet to pay large amounts of taxes and in the winter of 1999 was in danger of being declared bankrupt.[3] Sources: [1] Natsionalnyy Nauchnyy Tsentr Kharkovkskiy Fiziko-Tekhnicheskiy Institut, Brochure, 1996. [2] Statement of Andriy Glukhov, Project Manager, Battelle. Delivered before the U.S. Senate Subcommitte on Investigations, Comittee on Governmental Affairs, 13 March 1996. {Updated 10/22/96 GN} [3] NISNP discussions with Ukrainian Government official, June 1999, UKR990600. {Entered 3/3/2000 GD, CC} FISSILE MATERIAL: The Institute possesses up to 75kg of HEU in bulk form with enrichment levels of up to 90 percent. This material is stored at the Institute's facility in the suburb of Pyatikhatki. Depleted uranium and thorium are stored in the Institute's central Kharkiv location. [NISNP discussions with Ukrainian Government official, June 1999, UKR990600.] {Updated 3/3/2000 GD, CC} MPC&A: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has been largely responsible for upgrades to the MPC&A facilities at the Institute's Pyatikhatki site. The program began in June 1995 and officially ended in January 1999. MPC&A duties have since been transferred to DOE's Office of International Safeguards.[1] The physical structure of the facility was upgraded with new fences, intrusion detection sensors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and improved lighting. Improvements within the perimeter were also made. Walls, windows, and doors were strengthened and public utility locations have been reorganized to provide more security. New systems to assist personnel in alarm monitoring, CCTV camera switching, and radio communication have been installed in the central alarm station. A modular vault was installed to provide protection for nuclear materials.[3] An electricity generator was installed to ensure the continued operation of physical security measures in cases of external power loss.[2] MC&A improvements include new computers, a database for tracking nuclear materials movements, a supply of reusable containers, and equipment and supplies to be used during materials repackaging.[3] Radioactive materials in bulk form have all been repackaged into IAEA-conforming containers, constructed by the Institute under contract with DOE. In the summer of 1999, DOE concluded another contract with the Institute to construct new containers for other types of radioactive materials. Other MPC&A improvements, however, were made with equipment imported from the United States. Institute personnel are pessimistic about whether they will be able to obtain spare parts if the equipment requires repair. Contracts with DOE only provided for upkeep of equipment through 1999. In addition, Kharkiv personnel noted that cell phones provided through the MPC&A program did not work properly due to outdated equipment at the switching station.[2] The commissioning ceremony for the MPC&A system took place in January 1999.[4] No MPC&A upgrades have been made at the Institute's central Kharkiv site. The removal of depleted uranium and thorium to the Pyatikhatki site is under consideration.[2] Sources: [1] US Department of Energy (DOE) Web Site, http://www.nn.doe.gov/mpca.htm. [2] NISNP discussions with Ukrainian government official, June 1999, UKR990600. [3] "MPC&A Upgrades at the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology [Ukraine]," US Department of Energy, September 1998; originally available on the DOE Web Site, http://www.dp.doe.gov/. [4] "V Natsionalnom Nauchnom Tsentre 'Kharkovskiy Fizikotekhnicheskiy Institut' ustanovlena novaya sistema ucheta, kontrolya i fizicheskoy zashchity yadernykh materialov," UNIAN, 24 - 30 January 1999, No. 4. {Entered 8/19/99 SK}{Updated 2/29/2000 GD, CC} KHARKIV INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS: 12/26/2002: IRAQI INTEREST IN KIPT HEU REPORTED The Globe and Mail reported on 26 December 2002 that Iraq has shown interest in KIPT, raising concerns that it is seeking to acquire the institute's 75kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU). The government of Iraq established a diplomatic office in Kharkiv, and appointed Yuriy Orshanskiy, a Ukrainian businessman who had made up to 40 trips to Iraq, as its honorary consul to Kharkiv. Between 2000 and 2002 Orshanskiy was also accredited by Ukraine as Iraq's representative to Kharkiv. However, the accreditation was revoked after a scandal surrounding possible Ukrainian arms shipments to Iraq broke out. Iraq also sent three delegations to the city since 1998. One delegation received an official tour of KIPT. The poor financial situation at the institute causes worries that some KIPT specialists will enter into cooperation with the Iraqi government. [Mark MacKinnon, "Iraq showing unusual interest in Ukraine's nuclear laboratory," The Globe and Mail online edition, http://www.globeandmail.com/, 26 December 2002.] {Entered 1/28/2003 MJ} 10/11/2002: KIPT WANTS TO RETAIN HEU Global Security Newswire reported on 11 October 2002 that KIPT had declined to give up its HEU stockpile, rejecting a US offer to purchase its 75kg of 90% HEU to remove the risk of it falling into the hands of rogue states. KIPT director Volodymyr Lapshyn said that the institute needed the HEU for research and could not sell the uranium since it is state-owned, and is under IAEA oversight, and therefore cannot be removed without appropriate clearances. Lapshyn also said that there had been no direct contacts between Iraq and KIPT concerning the HEU. ["Ukraine: Research Institute Clings to Uranium Stocks," Global Security Newswire, 11 October 2002; in Nuclear Threat Initiative Web Site, http://www.nti.org/d_newsire/issues/2002/10/11/6p.html.] {Entered 10/22/2002 MJ} 6/5/2000: CENTER FOR REACTOR CORE DESIGN TO RECEIVE US TECHNOLOGIES Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology's Center for Reactor Core Design is to receive nuclear fuel and reactor core design technologies from the US Department of Energy. The Center for Reactor Core Design is being established as part of the Ukraine Nuclear Fuel Qualification Project, whose implementation agreement was signed during President Bill Clinton's visit to Ukraine on 5 July 2000. For additional information, please see the 6/5/2000 entry in the Fuel Cycle Developments. {Entered 7/6/2000 MJ} 10/29/99: US FUEL TO BE TESTED AT SOUTH UKRAINE NPP IN 2001 UNIAN reported on 29 October that the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology won a tender from the Ukrainian Energy Ministry to begin the introduction of US nuclear fuel at Ukrainian NPPs. The institute will create a design group to re-equip the Soviet-designed VVER-1000 reactors to handle the test samples of US fuel. The US company Westinghouse has been contracted by the US Department of Energy to design and produce the fuel. The South Ukraine NPP is expected to receive the fuel in 2001. For more information on Westinghouse's involvement see the entry under Fuel Cycle Developments. [UNIAN, 29 October 1999; in "Ukraine To Try US Pilot Fuel At Nuclear Power Plants In 2001," FBIS Document FTS19991029001500.] {Entered 11/8/99 GD} 1/28/99: KHARKIV INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCES NEW MPC&A SYSTEM As of January 1999, the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology had established a new MPC&A system. The system was established with assistance from the US Department of Energy's MPC&A program. According to Oleksandr Volobuyev, the institute's academic secretary, the new system meets international standards. Most of the equipment for the system realizaton is being provided by the US company Advantor Corporation. The commissioning ceremony for the new system was attended by US and IAEA officials. ["V natsionalnom nauchnom tsentre 'Kharkovskiy fizikotekhnicheskiy institut' ustanovlena novaya sistema ucheta, kontrolya i fizicheskoy zashchity yadernykh materialov," UNIAN, 24 - 30 January 1999, No. 4.] {Entered 8/19/99 SK}
LOCATION: Kiev
LOCATION: Sevastopol
Last updated 15 December 2003 Comments or questions? Contact Michael Jasinski at MIIS CNS: Michael.Jasinski@miis.edu 
HOME | CONTACT US | SITE MAP |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
