U.S.-RUSSIAN COLLABORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN METHODOLOGICAL AND TRAINING CENTER

Since the initial decision by the Russian Federation Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom), in March 1994 to create a state Russian Methodological and Training Center (RMTC), at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) at Obninsk, Russia, U.S. collaboration has resulted in a number of initiatives to enhance the development of the RMTC and support development of indigenous Russian training capabilities. The RMTC has been established to provide training and implementation support in the new concepts, regulations and techniques of nuclear material protection, control and accounting (MPC&A). It will also foster a climate where research and development in MPC&A methods can flourish and provide a forum for discussions between plant operations personnel and inspectors. In addition, the RMTC will also provide training to Gosatomnadzor (GAN) inspectors and operators. This paper describes the U.S.-Russian collaborative efforts to date, the methods used to determine and prioritize training and equipment needs, and will discuss medium and long-range plans to provide assistance in the development of the RMTC.