RT-1 Complex for SNF reclamation was put into operation at Mayak Production Association.

On April 18, 1977 RT-1 Complex for the recovery of irradiated nuclear fuel from reactors of nuclear power plants and nuclear-power vessels was put into operation at Mayak Production Association.

The solution of this problem was the crucial link in the formation of a closed nuclear fuel cycle for the nuclear power engineering industry. The use of reprocessed plutonium and uranium as secondary fuel has significantly reduced the burden imposed by energy-consuming stages of uranium mining and enrichment.

Research of nuclear fuel reprocessing technology began simultaneously with the construction of the world's first nuclear power plant (located in Obninsk) and the development of low and high-enrichment fuel elements. These works commenced by VNIINM named after Academician A. A. Bochvar in the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, research and experimental work was already carried out on the Unit 5 of VNIINM and on the newly developed Unit R in the IPPE named after Academician A. I. Leypunsky.

The development of the RT unit became one of the most important tasks. A Decree of the Council of Ministers of USSR was issued (on June 26, 1967). A number of new and complex issues arose both in terms of fuel reprocessing technology and equipment development. These were, primarily, operations of fragmentation of fuel assemblies, fuel dissolution, removal and collection of shell fragments, clarification (filtration) of the solution and its extraction reprocessing (main extraction cycle and refining cycles of uranium and plutonium-neptunium). Each of the process stages required careful study and design of reliable hardware. Research was carried out in laboratories and at test stands at the same time. It should be noted that these works were carried out with highly radioactive materials, the safety of which is to be ensured not only at the research stage, but also, a primarily, at the newly developed production.

The development based on the research previously conducted at VNIINM and the Radium Institute named after V. Khlopin. This development of the technology and equipment involved a number of institutes and design bureaus. These are, above others, VNIPIET, IPPE, SCERI, Mayak Production Association, Elektrostal Machine-Building Plant (there, the pilot unit was created), IFH of USSR Academy of Sciences, and others, as well as organizations within USSR Academy of Sciences – SKB of Hydro-Pulse Technology and Institute of Hydrodynamics.

After that, the main scope work was transferred to Mayak Production Association, where the new B-5 Unit was created basing on Unit-5 used by VNIINM. Later it was used to work out the technology. This actually preordained the choice of the location for the construction of the first domestic production facility for the reprocessing of spent fuel, which was at the industrial site of Mayak Production Association.

It would not be easy (nor it is necessary) to describe all the stages of development of the production system, neither it would be possible to name specific performers and participants of these works: there were many of them. Construction of the plant was proceeding at a rapid pace. Construction was mostly completed in 1974. The facility made was impressive. The main processing building, where the "product" intended for processing was received, is a huge closed structure that is capable of receiving railway container platforms or container cars. All the facilities where processing stages were carried out had heavy-duty concrete radiation protection.

Obviously, the installation and adjustment of the equipment took considerable time. But the launch period was especially on fire. V. Shevchenko, the head of the VNIINM specialized laboratory, took the lead in launching the plant. Working groups responsible for every process stage were formed under the leadership of VNIINM researchers and employees of Mayak Production Association. During the start-up period, the improvement of the technology and development of new methods and means of monitoring for radiochemical production and control systems proceeded.

It should be noted that all work on the plant's start-up was led and closely monitored by the former Fourth State Department of the Minsredmash. The Chairman of the Startup Committee was N. S. Chugreev. It was mainly his perseverance and authority that ensured the launch of the plant on time.

The RT-1 plant was put into operation in stages. In November 1976, a workshop for reprocessing of highly enriched fuel, fuel rods from nuclear submarine reactors, commenced operation, and in March 1977, the first process line for processing fuel from VVER reactors was opened. The complete RT-1 complex for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel was put into operation on April 18, 1977, when the first industrial batches of "energy" plutonium dioxide were obtained.

The RT-1 plant has been operating steadily for more than 40 years, and a tremendous amount of fuel from nuclear submarines, nuclear icebreakers, research reactors and nuclear power plants (both domestic and some foreign ones), was processed. Over the years, Mayak Production Association, together with VNIINM and other organizations, has made significant improvements in the technology and production processes. Today, RT-1 plant remains one of the few operating radiochemical facilities for processing spent fuel in the world.