There are on-going research and development activities in every one of the aspects mentioned above:

— A critical facility is being finished, and neutronic tests on the core are scheduled to

begin as soon as fuel for the facility is available. These tests are needed to validate the codes used for neutronic calculations.

— A mock-up of the protection system is being designed and will soon be under test.

— A prototype of control rod drive was tested last year. Results of these tests were

used to design and built a full scale prototype, which is now being tested at atmospheric pressure. Follow-up tests at full pressure and temperature are scheduled to begin this year.