Over two dozens of high-ranking diplomats, those being the permanent representatives at the IAEA in the rank of ambassadors for the countries using the Russian nuclear power services and technologies, have studied the best practices of operating fast neutron reactors at the Beloyarsk NPP.

At the moment, this station is the world’s only one operating based on this technology.

Apart from the Beloyarsk NPP, the guests have also visited the Ural electric chemical plant of the TVEL fuel company.

The aim of this visit was to demonstrate how advanced the Russian nuclear power industry is, starting with its effective natural uranium enrichment technology up to using uranium-plutonium fuel in fast nuclear reactors, which helps to “reuse” other NPPs’ spent fuel and to form a closed-loop nuclear fuel cycle.

At the Beloyarsk NPP, the delegation has also visited a BN-600 power block that has been in place for over 36 years and a new BN-800 power blocks, which is being prepared for commissioning.

The guests have had a look at the reactor and turbine halls, the power blocks control rooms, have learned about the design and technological peculiarities of fast neutron reactors with primary sodium, its security aspects, production scheme, and electric capacity delivery into the power system. In particular, the delegation was amazed by the fact that the BN-800 reactor unit can chill itself if necessary using air coolers and sodium natural circulation, that is, even without operational staff being involved.

“The ambassadors wanted to see how effective and safe the fast neutron reactors are, and they received comprehensive answers during their visits”, said Vladimir Voronkov, the Russian permanent representative at international organizations in Vienna. “Diplomacy and nuclear power industry work side by side, and the information on Russia’s leadership and advancement in nuclear power will be available in many countries”.

“The BN reactor will be a prototype for the global nuclear power industry in the future in terms of nuclear fuel cycle closure”, said Vladimir Kuchinov, the Rosatom Corporation advisor to CEO. “The Russian fast neutron reactors might become the meeting point for the international cooperation”. “We host visits for foreign specialists every now and then, with specialists from South Korea, France, and the Czech Republic coming to us”, said Ivan Sidorov, the Beloyarsk NPP director. 

“We demonstrate the reference BN-600 power block, which has been operating for 36 years, along with the new BN-800 power block. Rosatom is well ahead in terms of fast neutron reactors”.

The permanent representatives from Argentine, Belgium, Germany, Dominicana, Israel, the Dominican Republic, Israel, Indonesia, Qatar, China, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, Slovakia, Sudan, Switzerland, South Korea, and Japan, along with the IAEA and the European Union international organizations, were accompanied by the representatives of the Rosatom Corporation, the Rosenergoatom Concern, Rusatom – International Network. The visit was covered by the leading European and Russian mass media.


Beloyarsk NPP Information and Public Relations Administration.