PIK reactor start-up delayed

Start-up of the HEU-fueled PIK research reactor in Gatchina, near St-Petersburg, Russia, that was planned for March-April 2010, is delayed for at least a year and possibly longer. According to Russian press reports, the Institute for Nuclear Physics, which will operate the reactor, has no funding to complete construction of several support facilities. It is not clear if the funding will come later in 2010.