Iran produces fuel pellets for Arak

[IRNA, 24 November] The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, announced that Iran had produced the first nuclear fuel pellets for use in the IR-40 heavy water research reactor at Arak, which is still under construction. He said, "Fuel pellets for Arak 40 MW research reactor have been produced based on standards." Aghazadeh said that the fuel manufacturing plant at Isfahan will be able to supply the Arak reactor with fuel by September 2008. Tubes for the fuel assemblies will be produced at the zirconium production plant in Isfahan. The Arak reactor, which has been under construction since 2004, is due for completion in 2009. The incomplete plant was "inaugurated" in August 2006. The reactor, to replace the old Teheran research reactor, will be fuelled by natural uranium. Iran describes this unit as a research reactor, but heavy water reactors can be used to rapidly breed plutonium from natural uranium. This plutonium could be used for military purposes, although Iran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful. In July, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had reached a deal with Iran to allow an inspection of the Arak reactor.

Further information

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

WNA's Iraq, North Korea & Iran - Implications for Safeguards information paper

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