Visit of representatives of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)

From May 18 to 22, 2026, representatives of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) visited the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where the parties discussed current issues related to:

• construction and installation works for the down-blending and immobilization facility for HEU fuel from the IGR reactor;
• design of the repackaging facility for HEU fuel from the IGR reactor;
• construction of a hangar-type storage facility for material assets;
• refurbishment of the 125-ton gantry crane;
• development of oxidation technology for HEU fuel from the IVG.1M reactor.

Following the meeting, an action plan and implementation timelines were agreed upon.