Iran starts developing Arak heavy water reactor

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi on Monday launched a part of Arak heavy water reactor as a step to develop the plant, official IRNA news agency reported.

“Today we start an important section of the reactor,” Salehi said in a ceremony to launch a secondary circuit of the heavy water plant.

The Arak heavy reactor consists of primary and secondary sections whereby a significant part of it is the latter section, he said.

“The first circuit is tasked with removing heat from the heart of the reactor, and the secondary circuit is responsible for transferring the heat from the first circuit to cooling towers and finally to the outside environment,” according to semi-official Mehr news agency.

Under the Iranian 2015 international nuclear deal, Iran agreed to redesign the reactor to produce a limited amount of heavy water.

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On Monday, Salehi said that the control room of the reactor will take about five to six months to be completed.

The other parts of the plant would be completed in one year, he said.

Source: Xinhua – TEHRAN