PIK reactor is ready for start-up

St.-Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics is ready to start its new high-flux research nuclear reactor, PIK, at its facility in Gatchina, near St.-Petersburg. The institute is awaiting the final approval from regulatory bodies, which is expected to come in March or in April.

PIK is the first new research reactor to use HEU-based fuel since FRM-II reactor in Germany went critical on March 2, 2004. PIK reactor's fuel elements contain uranium dioxide with enrichment of 90% in a copper-beryllium matrix.