4 Dec (NucNet): The operator of Poland’s only research reactor has improved safety since a previous review three years ago, but work remains to address recommendations related to organisational and technical aspects, an International Atomic Energy Agency team of experts said. The Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactors (INSARR) team concluded a four-day follow-up mission to review the implementation of recommendations made during a 2014 mission to assess the safety of the Maria research reactor, 30km south of the capital Warsaw in Świerk-Otwock. The 30 MW-reactor is operated by the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) and was initially commissioned in 1974. It was converted to use low-enriched uranium as fuel in 2014 and received a new licence in 2015. The reactor is used for research, the production of medical and industrial isotopes, and irradiation services and experiments. “The operator has made several safety improvements since the 2014 mission,” said team leader William Kennedy of the Research Reactor Safety Section at the IAEA. “However, the NCBJ has not finished implementing the new integrated management system and efforts are ongoing to upgrade reactor safety systems.” Details online: http://bit.ly/2jbtPy0
