Design of Arak Reactor Worked out, Says Salehi

Vice-President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday that major part of design of Arak nuclear reactor has been worked out and only the heart remained to be installed.

Speaking to reporters, he said based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), working committees comprising of experts from Iran, China and the US were formed to mull presentation of sampling model for Arak nuclear site.

‘The major operation is conducted by the Iranian experts and we are ahead of schedule,’ he said.

The concept design has been given to the Chinese and American experts which is at the final stage and negotiations on planning are underway, Salehi said.

The Chinese experts have finished some 95 percent of their commercial contract on redesigning of Arak nuclear reactor, he said.

‘We are now administering the affairs and act as contractor and in case these countries fail to carry out their duties for any reasons, we have made required predictions,’ Salehi said.

The amount of plutonium in the newly designed reactor will be lower but its neutron charge is higher to augment efficiency, he said.

IRNA

R.S