The IAEA has assessed the safety of Uzbekistan's 65-year-old research reactor.

The WWR-SM reactor, located in the village of Ulugbek near Tashkent, is owned by the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and is primarily used for the production of medical radionuclides.

It was commissioned in 1959 with an initial capacity of 2 megawatts, which was increased to 10 megawatts in 1980. Since 2017, with the support of the IAEA, the WWR-SM has undergone several major modernization projects focused on enhancing safety and ensuring its continued safe operation.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited the Institute of Nuclear Physics in early December as part of his trip to Uzbekistan, continuing the country’s support in utilizing nuclear technologies for development.

During his visit, Grossi praised the long-standing experience of the WWR-SM reactor in the production of radionuclides.

Most research reactors worldwide have been in operation for over 40 years. “Over time, maintaining the safety and reliability of such facilities can become challenging due to the wear and tear of systems and components caused by continuous operation,” noted Amgad Shokr, head of the IAEA's Research Reactor Safety Section. In response, the IAEA is developing safety standards and conducting peer reviews to advise member states on the application of these standards, managing the degradation of systems and components, and ensuring the long-term safe operation of research reactors.

The mission for assessing the safety of the long-term operation of research reactors (SALTO-RR) evaluates the programs and operations of research reactors in accordance with IAEA safety standards, involving experts from various countries.

The mission conducted in Uzbekistan included participation from two IAEA staff members and three international experts from Canada, Pakistan, and South Africa. It identified areas for improvement and provided recommendations, including the need to develop formal processes for conducting periodic safety reviews and managing changes. It was also recommended to review the aging management program of the WWR-SM reactor according to IAEA safety standards.

“We are grateful for the SALTO-RR mission, which supports our efforts in managing the aging of the reactor and ensuring its continued safe operation,” said Ilham Sadikov, director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Uzbekistan. “The recommendations presented by the IAEA team helped identify key technical areas for future improvements. We will continue to align our aging management actions with international safety standards,” he added.

The mission team conducted visits to the reactor and its adjacent facilities, analyzed documentation, and held technical discussions with management and staff.

“We appreciated the high level of discussions during the mission, and the professionalism of the management and staff of the WWR-SM was highly commendable,” noted Kaichao Sun, mission leader and IAEA nuclear safety officer. “We urge the facility to adopt the mission's recommendations and implement safety measures for operation as a priority,” he added.

An increasing number of IAEA member states are expressing interest in conducting the SALTO-RR mission to assess the readiness of their research reactors for operation beyond their intended lifespan and to evaluate aging management programs. Typically, SALTO-RR missions include follow-up reviews to assess progress in implementing recommendations. Uzbekistan plans to hold such a mission in 2027.