Azerbaijan to produce nuclear fuel?

By Nigar Orujova - AzerNews 

Azerbaijan aims to develop nuclear research in the country and produce nuclear fuel.

The Emergency Situations Ministry together with the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies and the International Atomic Energy Agency are working on a feasibility study for a nuclear research reactor, according to a statement by Communications Minister Ali Abbasov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

“We also teamed up with the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry to launch a geological investigation of nuclear deposits in Azerbaijan,” he said.

“If we find enough sources we will draw up a package of proposals on the production of nuclear fuel in the country, and submit it to the government,” the minister added.

Nuclear fuel is a substance that is used to derive nuclear energy.

The National Nuclear Research Center in Azerbaijan, established by the ministry, is scheduled to be open this year. Argentinean and French companies expressed their readiness to take part in constructing the center, which seeks to provide research on the use of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes.

Gamma radiation system to begin operations

Azerbaijan will commence operations at a gamma radiation complex this November.

“The work to build the gamma radiation complex to be used in agricultural and medical sterilization is nearing end, and it will be launched this November,” said Ali Abbasov at the meeting.

The project, developed jointly by the Institute of Radiation Problems of Azerbaijan's National Academy of Sciences and the International Atomic Energy Agency, will involve sterilizing various products, such as medical instruments and food.

The construction of the installation is underway in Gobu, in Absheron peninsula. The activity of radioactive sources will be 300,000 curies, but the compound has a capacity of working at a rate of up to two million curies.

After launching of the complex, different items will be exposed to gamma ray radiation to increase their shelf lives.

Gamma radiation sterilization, one of the most penetrative types of energy, causes significant cell damage at even low dosages, killing germs without corrupting the material.