On 6 May 2022 the IVG.1M reactor at Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center reached criticality with LEU fuel (see also a WNN story). This is an important step in the conversion of the reactor to LEU fuel, which was first delivered to the reactor in 2014 and tested in 2017. The main shipment of fresh fuel was delivered to the reactor in February 2021. The reactor is expected to reach full power in 2023.

Irradiated HEU fuel may still be on site. It was scheduled to be removed in 2020, but it appears that the transfer was delayed.