Iran Opens New Uranium Processing Facility in Yazd

Local Editor

In a new nuclear achievement, Iran launched Tuesday a new uranium production facility and began operations in two extraction mines, state television said.
The mines in the city of Saghand in central Iran operate 350 meters underground and are within 120 kilometers of the new yellowcake production facility in the city of Ardakan, in Yazd province, the television said.

"Uranium ores are extracted from the depth of 350 meters in Saghand mine near Ardakan and are then sent to Rezayeenejad complex to be converted into Yellow Cake," it added.
The report gave few details of the Ardakan facility but said it had an estimated 60 tons output of yellowcake, which is an impure state of uranium oxide later used in enrichment processes.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the two uranium processing facilities.
Ahmadinejad issued the order for the start of the operation at the two nuclear facilities through a video conference connection and during a ceremony held to mark the National Day of the nuclear technology.
Iran repeatedly stressed that its enrichment activities are aimed at feeding a peaceful energy program.

In April 2006, Ahmadinejad announced that Iran had succeeded in completing the nuclear fuel production cycle at laboratory scale, which made Iran one of the world's 9 established nuclear states. Following the event, April 9 was named as the day of nuclear technology.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org