Cooperation in MNSR Fuel Conversion
The Conversion of Miniature Neutron Source Reactors (MNSR) from high-enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) is one of the important steps taken by the international community to improve nuclear security and prevent nuclear proliferation. At the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. in 2016, President Xi Jinping committed China to assisting relevant countries in the conversion of Chinese-supplied MNSRs under the Ghana model on a voluntary basis.
The Chinese-designed MNSR, which is relatively small, easy to operate and inherently safe, can be used for neutron activation analysis, nuclear probe testing, small amount of isotope production, teaching and training. The conversion of Ghana's MNSR to low-enriched uranium started in 2014 by China, the United States, the Russian Federation and other countries in cooperation with the IAEA, with the Chinese team playing a leading role in some important tasks such as LEU fuel design and manufacturing, zero power experiments, and loading and commissioning. Following the completion of the Ghana's MNSR conversion in August 2017, the fuel conversion project for the MNSR in Nigeria was launched in September 2017 based on the Ghana Model, and completed in December 2018.
The MNSR conversion projects have highlighted China's contributions to global nuclear security and non-proliferation, and China's commitment to shouldering the responsibilities of a major country in supporting African countries' peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
微堆低浓化改造
研究堆低浓化改造、减少高浓铀使用是国际社会加强核安保、防止核扩散的重要措施之一。在2016年华盛顿核安全峰会上，习近平郑重宣布愿在“加纳模式”基础上，本着自愿务实的原则，协助有关国家改造从中国进口的高浓铀微堆。
微堆是中国自主研发的研究堆，具有小型化、易操作、固有安全性好等特点，可用于中子活化分析、核仪器探头考验、少量同位素生产及教学培训等。2014年起，中国、美国、俄罗斯等与囯际原子能机构合作，开始对加纳高浓铀微堆实施低浓化改造。中方项目团队全面主导参与了低浓铀燃料设计加工、零功率实验、装料调试等重要任务。2017年8月，加纳微堆低浓化改造圆满完成，在“加纳模式”基础上，2017年9月，各方启动了尼日利亚堆低浓化改造项目，于2018年12月圆满完成。
微堆低浓化改造项目展示了中国对全球核安保与防扩散事业的积极贡献，也彰显了中囯支持非洲国家和平利用核技术的负责任大国形象。
