A nuclear reactor that has stood idle for about a year is waiting to be reactivated at the Kyiv Nuclear Research Institute. The reactor built for nuclear research in Kyiv is one of a kind in Ukraine. According to Volodymyr Makarovsky, chief reactor operator, the institute received the go-ahead from the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Commission to keep the reactor operational by the year end. It is expected the reactor will work at full capacity for a month. The reactor has been filled with nuclear fuel and measures are being taken to obtain a permit to start it up. Mr. Makarovsky confirmed reports of an accident that occurred while fuel was being loaded into the reactor. As he put it, slight damage to a fuel cassette which was the fault of the personnel did not pose any threat of contamination. But since the damaged cassette cannot be used again, the plant incurred some financial losses, FORUM quoted a UNIAN report. Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Commission Director Vadym Hryshchenko stressed that the permission to operate the reactor by yearend was issued with due consideration of measures taken to ensure its safety. Provided the institute ensures safe operation of the reactor over a longer period of time, the license to operate it might be extended for several more years, but, in any event, in five years the reactor in Kyiv will be shut down for good, said Mr. Hryshchenko.
