LOCATION: Tashkent
REACTORS: One (not
operational)
TYPE: IIN-3M liquid (water-uranium salt), pulse
reactor
POWER: 10kWt (avg.) 200GW (max. per pulse)
[NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists and
officials, June 1995 and May 1996.] FUEL: Liquid salt HEU fuel.[1] According
to the Head of International Relations at the Institute of
Nuclear Physics, the reactor fuel consists of 4.1kg of 90% HEU in the
form of 22.4 liters of
uranyl sulfate in water solution.[2] The Radleg Project of the
International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) indicates that the core
contains 4.4kg of 90% HEU.[3] Sources: [1] NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists and
officials, June 1995 and May 1996. [2] NISNP correspondence with Uzbekistani physicist, Head of International Relations Department, Institute of
Nuclear Physics, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, 25 March 1997. [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
3/12/01 KB} STATUS The Photon reactor has been shut down. All
nuclear material has been transferred to the Institute of
Nuclear Physics.
[NISNP Interview with Uzbekistani physicist, June
2001, UZB010600.]{Entered 6/27/2001 KB} OPERATOR According to NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists
and officials in 1995 and 1996, the Photon Radioelectrical Technical Plant
operated the reactor.[1] The Radleg Project of
the International Science and
Technology Center refers to the operator as Foton Commercial Corporation.[2]
This may be the same as the Foton
Joint Stock Company, a large consumer electronics company in Tashkent
that produced microcircuits for submarines during the Soviet era.[3,4]
Sources: [1] NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists and
officials, June 1995 and May 1996. [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. [3] "O nas," OAO Foton Web Site, http://www.foton.uz/rus/home.htm. [4] Artem Gorodnov, "Uzbekskoye
predpriyatiye poluchit grant v 2 milliona dollarov," Segodnya, 22 May 1996, p. 9.{Updated
3/12/01 KB} ACTIVITIES: According to NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists
and officials in 1995 and 1996, the reactor was
used to improve the properties of
semi-conductor materials.[1] A 1997 IAEA source
states that the Photon reactor was used to test the effect of radiation on
space equipment.[2] The Radleg Project indicates that the reactor was
used for neutron activation analysis.[3]
Sources: [1] NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists and
officials, June 1995 and May 1996. [2] Kenji Murakami, "Verification in Newly
Independent States," IAEA Bulletin, Vol. 39, No. 4, December 1997,
International Atomic Energy Agency Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/.../murakami.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.{Updated
3/12/01 KB} COMMENTS: According to Uzbekistani scientists, the research reactor was
designed by the Kurchatov
Institute in Moscow.
[NISNP interviews with Uzbekistani scientists and
officials, June 1995 and May 1996.]
