Nuclear energy facilitates sustainable development: Aqazadeh
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Prov, April 12, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear Program-Aqazadeh
The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh said Tuesday Iran achieved nuclear know-how and has fully paved the way for sustainable progress and development.
Iran has produced uranium enriched 3.5 percent in its Natanz facility thanks to the efforts of its young talented experts, he said in a report on Iran's nuclear activities.
"Iran is determined to open its way for civilian use of nuclear energy with respect to great impacts of nuclear science on scientific, economic and social development and the sustainable development in general.
"Generating electricity from nuclear energy is among macro plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Based on a legislation passed by Majlis, the government is required to produce 20,000 MW electricity from nuclear energy and build several nuclear power plants.
The IAEO has undertaken to implement the plan in the course of a specified period.
"A contract was signed and executed in cooperation with Russia to produce 1,000-MW electricity in the first phase of Bushehr power plant as part of the plan," he added.
He said, "Construction process of Bushehr power plant by the end of last Iranian calendar year of 1384 (ended March 20, 2006) showed a 91.9 percent physical progress. We hope the test production will be launched in the current year.
"The Iranian experts started construction planning of a 360-MW power plant in line with development of the country's atomic power plants. Moreover, construction of two 1,000-MW units will be put on international tender during the current Iranian year.
"The country's increasing need to different radio medicines for diagnosis and various radioisotopes for industrial and research use as well as different limitations the country faced in providing these radioisotopes from foreign suppliers outside the country made the Iranian officials construct a research reactor to be replaced with an old reactor.
"The new 40,000 MW heavy water research reactor, known as R-R-40 will be inaugurated in 2008."
Aqazadeh added, "Self-sufficiency in production of nuclear fuel is among other macro plans of Iran.
"A decision to construct various nuclear power plants, which are carried out under full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to work to produce different nuclear fuel.
"It is obvious, processing of uranium ore into uranium and its enrichment should be carried out for producing fuel. Iran is active in all stages of fuel production.
"Bandar Abbas project which was inaugurated during recent weeks by Iranian experts was an example of Iran's activities to obtain uranium from natural resources.
"In Saqand project in Yazd, uranium was extracted from a depth of 350-meter which will turn into yellowcake after different chemical and physical transitions in Ardekan city, Yazd."
The IAEO head stated, "The UCF project in Isfahan turns yellowcake into hexa-flouride (UF6) which is metal uranium and uranium oxide.
This UF6 is the main material for enrichment in Natanz.
"What is being done at Natanz is completion of uranium enrichment for production of nuclear fuel for power plants which use uranium enriched 3.5 to five percent.
"I have the honor to announce 110 tons of UF6 have been produced at these important nuclear facilities.
"Iran is now regarded as the eighth country enjoying advanced technology for uranium-processing facilities."
Aqazadeh added, "Production of heavy water is among most complicated modern technologies of the world which limited number of countries have such a capability.
"Primary works of the project began in Iran. Storage of the first phase of heavy water has been started. Final capacity of this important project hits 16 tons per year.
"Uranium enrichment technology includes several engineering and basic know-how which a few countries currently enjoy it. The significance of this technology led to scientific and industrial improvement of the country.
"Thanks to the grace of God, inauguration of pilot and the test process of this complex and its technical and practical know-how are regarded as the cross border to the advanced know-how.
"This great success in nuclear technology is the result of wise decisions and policies adopted by high-ranking Iranian officials who remove suspension from nuclear facilities.
"It showed high peaks of advanced nuclear know-how can be conquered through resistance against illegitimate demands of others and confidence of innovative Iranian experts.
Aqazadeh expressed hope that an uranium enrichment complex with a capacity of 3,000 tons will come on stream by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2007).
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