Current Item:
Collaboration with Kazakstan - A draft plan for initiation of joint collaborative projects with Kazakstan has been transmitted to the Kazakstan Atomic Energy Agency. The plan is based on funding four initial tasks: 1) provide information on Kazak nuclear facilities for the INSC Database; 2) develop a plan to locate an INSC Database server in Kazakstan; 3) identify an organization to host a Kazakstan INSC; and 4) develop detailed proposal for collaborative R&D projects. The plan will be discussed with Timur Zhantikin and Yuri Cherepnin during their visit to ANL on 1-2 Aug. 1996.
Equipment for Ghana - Dr. Kwame Kyere, Director of the National Nuclear Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), visited ANL on 23 July 1996 to discuss educational programs; during that visit, he requested an update on the equipment which is being acquired for trans-shipment to Ghana. The meeting also provided the opportunity to clarify Ghana's specific needs. Among other things, we heard that GAEC is in need of such basic office equipment as fax machines and copiers. Presently, two computers have been received from a DOE contractor excess equipment inventory for trans-shipment and five plotters and two printers are being shipped from another DOE contractor excess equipment inventory. DOE/NE-30 and GC have drafted a letter to the Chairman of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission outlining the terms under which equipment can be provided to Ghana; ANL currently is reviewing that draft to make certain that the language in the letter is acceptable to the Laboratory and the University of Chicago. Under the terms of the letter, DOE would loan the equipment to Ghana. ANL is designated in the letter as the agent for DOE to acquire the equipment and trans-ship it to Ghana.
Joint Projects with the Russian International Nuclear Safety Center - Evaluation is continuing on the four two-page program briefs that have been identified as candidates for near-term funding by the U.S. and on the list of office and communications equipment that has been requested.
Future Items:
Visit by Zhantikin and Cherepnin (Kazakstan) - Timur Zhantikin (Director General, Kazakstan Atomic Energy Agency) and Yuri Cherepnin (Director General, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakstan) will visit ANL-E on 1-2 August 1996. During this visit, it is planned to discuss an initial set of INSC-Kazakstan joint projects.
EU-Sponsored Chernobyl Shelter Project - Leo LeSage (ANL), Dennis Kried (PNNL) and Frank Goldner (DOE) will attend Working Meeting No. 3 of the EU-sponsored Chernobyl Shelter Project to be held in Brussels during the week of 29 July 1996. The topic of the meeting will be the design criteria and the scope of a feasibility study. A coordination meeting with Ukrainian experts is tentatively to be held in the Ukraine in late August or early September.
Discussions with Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited (AECL) - After a hiatus of several months, AECL has reinitiated contact regarding potential cooperation in severe accident experiments and applications of advanced computing technology, such as parallelization of large codes. AECL has contacted DOE (S. Franks) regarding further discussions.
Activities Calendar:
29-30 July - LeSage (ANL), Kried (PNNL) and Goldner (DOE) to attend Working Meeting No. 3 on the EU-sponsored Chernobyl Shelter Project in Brussels.
August - ANL database specialists to visit IBRAE.
1-2 August - Visit by T. Zhantikin (KAEA) and Y. Cherepnin (NNC-RK) to ANL-E. (NNsponsored)
TBD Meeting with AECL representatives to discuss severe accidents and applications of advanced computing technology.
September Visit to Kazakstan to finalize initial INSC projects.