Rosatom’s industry publication Strana Rosatom reported on September 28 equipment delivery and fuel testing for the MBIR research reactor in Dimitrovgrad. The Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau for Machine-Building delivered main circulation pumps that will move liquid sodium through the primary circuit. Pump installation is planned during 2026.

The same release said acceptance tests were conducted on the first three fuel assemblies made for MBIR at Rosatom’s fuel technology facility. A commission reviewed production readiness, technical parameters and inspection measurements, and found the trial batch suitable for the reactor’s initial core. The announcement describes progress in construction and preparation, not a reactor entering service.