Arak Heavy Water Reactor(Fars News Agency Photo)
The director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) reported today that Iran has produced its own fuel pellets and fuel rods for the heavy water reactor in Arak. Gholam Reza Aghazadeh said the Fuel Manufacturing Plant in Isfahan is producing the pellets and the rods (IRNA, 24 November)
The 40-megawatt heavy water nuclear reactor is under construction in Arak and it is expected to become operational in mid-2008. Arak plutonium-based reactor was being built on a parallel track to that of Natanz uranium-based reactor.
Both plutonium and uranium can be used in nuclear-weapon production. Nuclear experts believe plutonium-based reactors provide a simpler way of producing weapon-grade fuel. Iran insists that Arak is only a scientific research reactor replacing a smaller one in Tehran.
The 40-megawatt heavy water nuclear reactor is under construction in Arak and it is expected to become operational in mid-2008. Arak plutonium-based reactor was being built on a parallel track to that of Natanz uranium-based reactor.
Both plutonium and uranium can be used in nuclear-weapon production. Nuclear experts believe plutonium-based reactors provide a simpler way of producing weapon-grade fuel. Iran insists that Arak is only a scientific research reactor replacing a smaller one in Tehran.
that's not the arak reactor, on the picture. It's heavy water production facility built in the vicinity of the actual reactor site. cheers.
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