The schedule for core coversion accommodates the seasonal need for heat and electricity. Therefore for the most part, the reactors will be shut down for modifications of their fuel cores during times when the heat and electricity will be least critically needed.

As shown in the figure below, the current schedule calls for the reconstruction licensing work to be completed by early 2000, after all safety and regulatory requirements have been met.

Long-lead time procurement activities will be initiated in late 1998, as the core conversion design is being finalized, in order to begin reactor modifications immediately upon completion of the regulatory review and approval process.

Once a reconstruction license has been obtained, installation of equipment and materials can begin. This step will be continued as needed throughout the installation, acceptance, testing, and restart of the reactors.

Installation of the modified fuel core of the ADE-5 reactor at Seversk will begin in April 2000 and finish in September 2000. At the remaining two reactors (the ADE-4 Seversk reactor and the ADE-2 Zheleznogorsk reactor) installation will begin in January 2001 and will be completed by July of that year.

Acceptance tests and startup will be carried out for the first converted reactor from October through November 2000, and from June through July 2001 for the remaining two reactors.

Decision Document

A core conversion decision document will be prepared prior to the end of Phase 2 and before initiation of installation. The decision document will frame the technical, economic, and programmatic issues to provide a reliable basis for a decision to continue with remaining core conversion activities to completion (including purchasing and installing equipment, modification of reactor plant systems, and restarting the reactors).

Minatom Approved Core Conversion Project Schedule