Material Control and Accountability Upgrades at the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology

International standards for nuclear control an Accountability (MC&A) have been gradually developing. Although these standards are not yet formalized, most countries agree on the essential elements of an effective MC&A program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the de facto arbiter of these MC&A standards, and administers international nuclear safeguards programs around the world. Ukrainian and American specialists have collaborated since 1995 to upgrade facilities and documentation at the Kharkov institute of Physics ad Technology (KIPT) to meet current international MC&A standards. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) consulted with Ukrainian authorities to develop an automated database which would meet the needs of all Ukrainian nuclear facilities, then provided the database to KIPT along with a computer network to facilitate record keeping and retrieval. The Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant provided analytical instrumentation for quantifying KIPT's nuclear inventory equipment and supplies for nuclear materials repackaging, and funding to KIPT through subcontracts to perform the work. KIPT specialists calibrated the analytical instruments for material in their inventory, After calibration was completed, the nuclear materials were repackaged ad analyzed on site.