IT IS DANGEROUS TO LIVE IN ESFAHAN

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The Center for Nuclear Technology in Esfahan is the largest nuclear center in Iran. It employs as many as 3000 scientists, and includes:

• A 30 watt miniature neutron source reactor (a light water reactor operating since the mid-1990s)

• A light water sub-critical reactor

• A 100 KW heavy water reactor

• A nuclear uranium conversion installation

• An FMP production plant – to produce fuel for the other reactors

• A uranium chemistry laboratory (closed down in 2004)

• A zirconium production plant (ZPP)

The main hazards emanating from the installation are uranium, lead and UF6 gas produced and used at the installation. Reportedly, at least 250 tons of UF6 gas is stored in tunnels under the installation.

THE HAZARDS EMANATING FROM THE INSTALLATION

Technical malfunctions

The sanctions on Iran are preventing it from procuring high quality technology from the West, and it is forced to procure Russian technology, and even worse, Chinese technology, in addition to local technology developed by Iranian scientists.

These technologies are, to put it mildly, inferior, and they compromise safety in these installations, thus increasing the risk of technical failures, and as a result, of work accidents of
one sort or another.

The highly corrosive materials in the facility damage the tank piping and accessories, causing frequent UF6 and ultimately HF leaks. These cause internal injuries to humans and animals. The harm is caused on a daily basis, including damaging the quality of products in plants nearby, especially those producing food, medicines, and other products for human consumption.

Accidents

These are low energy reactors, and the likelihood that an accident would cause an explosion and release fissile particles is low. However, accidents have happened in uranium conversion facilities elsewhere in the world, causing harm to individuals and the environment for many years afterwards. An example is the 1986 accident in the U.S. which eventually had to be shut down because of the heavy pollution.

Military offensive

The chances of a military offensive are high because of the importance of Esfahan in Iran’s nuclear program. A military offensive would cause massive damage. An offensive or serious accident would release uranium hexafluoride UF6 into the atmosphere. When UF6 comes into contact with the air, it disintegrates to create uranile fluoride and hydrogen fluoride (which has high chemical reactivity). Inhaling this is dangerous and it could also cause serious skin burns.

An explosion that would disperse the stored uranium at the site would be even more toxic for the population living around the installation. These toxins would damage internal organs, especially the kidneys, as well as increase the chances of cancer and internal defects.

The residents of Esfahan

Can the residents of Esfahan – 2 million of them – remain calm given the “time bomb” the regime has decided to place on their doorstep?

Can anyone guarantee that an accident will not happen in the installation, which consists only of cheap and unsafe technology?

And if an accident happened, is the state ready to give long-term assistance to the victims and their families?

Will anyone compensate them? Is it possible at all to compensate for loss of life and disease?

The answer to all these questions is No.

The residents of Esfahan may not remain calm because the last thing the regime is interested in is the civilian population. It is enough to see how the regime “takes” the food off people’s plates and uses this for grandiose projects, thus pushing more people below the bread line.
The regime knows that the population living near these installations is exposed to health hazards and has organized courses for medical personnel in the hospitals in the area, but they have said these courses are next to useless because nothing would really help if anything happened.

And compensation? You make Ahmadinejad laugh.