An international Technical Meeting on Lessons Learned from the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) Programme arranged by IAEA in cooperation with the Government of Vietnam was held on 18-20 June 2014 in Da-Nang City of Vietnam. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the present status and future of the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) programme, as well as to consider technical, legal, logistical, administrative and other challenges involved in the implementation of this programme. The meeting was dedicated to the discussion of experience obtained from previous shipments of fresh and spent highly enriched uranium fuel elements from research reactors in Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Libya, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
Special attention was given to first experiences gained from organization of air shipments of RR SNF from Vietnam and Hungary performed in 2013 using type C package (TUK-145/C).
Specialists of Sosny Company made presentations on experience in preparation and removal of SNF from Vietnam and preparation for removal of liquid SNF of IIN-3M RR as well as presentation of a New IAEA Report (being prepared for publication) about available reprocessing and recycling services for RR SNF.
The atmosphere at the conference was very friendly. It was nice to see colleagues and friends from different countries, discuss present issues and future plans.
