(VOV) – The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute has reported that the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute shipped the last of its remaining 106 highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel assemblies to Russia on July 3.
The fuel assemblies, weighing 11kg, were transported via a Russian AN-124-100 cargo plane.
The transport was the result of effective cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United States’ National Nuclear Security Administration, and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation.
The Da Lat nuclear reactor, capable of producing 250kW in the early 1960s, can now produce 500kW. The IAEA began supporting Vietnam’s purchase of 140 HEU fuel assemblies (36% U235) in 1983, manufactured and supplied by the former Soviet Union.
The IAEA, the US, and Russia now recommend using low enriched uranium (LEU) for power generation as it cannot be used in nuclear weapon production.
The Da Lat reactor was one of more than 20 in 17 different countries requested to switch to LEU.
The Da Lat reactor completely replaced HEU with LEU by November 2011. The achievement was recognised as one of 2011′s most prominent for the Vietnamese science and technology community.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
