The IAEA has assessed the safety of a 65-year-old research reactor in Uzbekistan.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted the SALTO-RR mission aimed at assessing the safety of the VVER-SM research reactor in Uzbekistan. This reactor, operated by the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences, has been in operation since 1959 and is utilized for the production of medical radioisotopes.

Agency experts highly commended Uzbekistan's efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of reactor operations, as well as noted the successful implementation of modernization projects. Since 2017, the VVER-SM has undergone a series of upgrades with IAEA support, which has enhanced safety indicators and extended its operational lifespan.

During the mission, IAEA representatives and international experts from Canada, Pakistan, and South Africa identified areas for further improvements. These include the introduction of formal procedures for periodic safety inspections, modification management, and enhancement of the reactor aging management program.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who visited the Institute of Nuclear Physics, highlighted the significant contribution of the VVER-SM reactor to isotope production. The next phase of the SALTO-RR mission to assess the long-term operation of the reactor is scheduled for 2027.