Iran puts nuclear plant into operation

rte / cnn ^ | 26 August 2006 10:01

[maquiladora]

Iran has announced that a heavy water reactor plant south-west of Tehran has been put into operation.

The plutonium by-product of the plant could be used to make atomic war-heads but Iran insists it only intends to build nuclear power plants.

The move comes days before a UN deadline for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, the part of Tehran's atomic programme that most worries the West.

......................

A Reuters witness said on Saturday the president inaugurated the project and toured the site at Khondab, which is near Arak, 190 kilometers (120 miles) southwest of the capital Tehran. The plant's plutonium by-product could be used to make atomic warheads.

A small group of correspondents from foreign news organizations were taken with Iranian journalists to Khondab, the site near Arak where the heavy-water project is being built, to attend the presidential speech.

The complex was protected by dozens of anti-aircraft guns and surrounded by a four-meter high barbed wire fence. Photographers and TV journalists were asked not to take any images except in areas where they were specifically permitted.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones? Are heavy ones the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material? If so, isn't this a hint to those people who believe that Iran is peaceful?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones? Are heavy one the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material? If so, isn't this a hint to those people who believe that Iran is peaceful?

[mainepatsfan]

Hey at least they're willing to begin "serious negotiations". /s

[endthematrix]

IIRC, the plutonium it can harvest is easier with low enriched uranium. It's a good R&D testbed for sure. One hint for me is the fact that Iran is acquiring beryllium which is for bombs.

[madconserv]

'Iran is not a threat to anybody, not even to the Zionist regime,' he said.

LOL. Then why did he say Israel should be removed from the map? Sounds like a threat to me.

[madconserv]

Chernobyl II.

[The Red Zone]

yeah, since the whole country is shakier than an ayatollah with dt's.

[madconserv]

Excellent point! One more act of nature\God, in the right place, would do the trick!

[LowOiL]

It's their Oblivion...

[Recovering Hermit]

Iran has announced that a heavy water reactor plant south-west of Tehran has been put into operation.

Here's hoping for another annoucement by the US and Isreal that the plant is now out of operation. Permanently.

[Edit35]

The US should begin discussions on arming the Chetchnians (Russia's mortal enemy) and South Korea and Japan (China's mortal enemy) with nuclear technology.

See how Russia and China like the idea of having THEIR enemies armed with nukes.

[xzins]

[steveegg]

Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones?

Heavy-water reactors can run with unenriched uranium (which Iran has in spades). Light-water reactors require moderately-enriched uranium (of course, it's not all that hard to go from moderately-enriched to highly-enriched when the IAEA wants you to have nukes under the table).

Are heavy ones the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material?

No, but because there is more U-238 in unenriched uranium, heavy-water reactors produce more plutonium (specifically Pu-239, the bomb-making isotope) than light-water reactors.

[tet68]

The plant's plutonium by-product could be used to make atomic warheads BABY MILK.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

For the information about nuclear reactors, much appreciated.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Why do some countries still use heavy water reactors when there are light water ones? Are heavy ones the only ones which produce nuclear weapon material? If so, isn't this a hint to those people who believe that Iran is peaceful?"

Three possible reasons:

1) A heavy water reactor running on U-235 can "go critical" with natural (aka "un-enriched" uranium), and produce power and plutonium.

2) A heavy water reactor fueled with a mix of enriched U-235 and thorium will "breed" U-233 from the thorium (the U-233 is also fissionable, and can then be used to fuel for "burner" reactors). This technology is being developed by India.

3) A heavy water reactor fueled with enriched U-235 plus U-238 will breed plutonium in larger amounts.

All three have peaceful uses---but #3 points HEAVILY to the production of plutonium for use in fission explosives.

[softwarecreator]

The US should begin discussions on arming the Chetchnians (Russia's mortal enemy) and South Korea and Japan (China's mortal enemy) with nuclear technology

Excellent point.  While we are at it let's give our allies nukes.  I'm sure countries like Poland, Thailand and Australia could use a few.  Somehow I don't think China will try to invade Thailand if they had the bomb and the means to launch them.  And Rusiia will not sleep too soundly if Poland had them, even if they are not enemies.

[softwarecreator]

The plant's plutonium by-product could be used to make atomic warheads BABY MILK

LOL.  And Iran should make sure the signs for the plant are written in English so our leftie MSM will photograph it to prove their peaceful aims.

[mvpel]

No, heavy water reactors allow the use of unenriched uranium in the fuel cycle, and easy recycling of reprocessed spent fuel. Do a web search for the 'CANDU' reactor design.