1987 Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT

1987

IRAQI ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

This report highlights the major activities of the IAEC for the year 1967. During this year, the U.N. Conference for the Promotion of international Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was held. A letter from his excellency Saddam Hussein the President of the Republic of Iraq was presented to the conference. It emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in the promotion of peaceful applications of nuclear energy among nations of the world. The letter also highlights the responsibility of supporting international efforts to find effective measures to protect nuclear facilities, in particular, those under IAEA safeguards, against any deliberate armed attacks to prevent the repetition of similar criminal act of aggression which was carried out on June 7, 1981 by Israel against the Iraqi peaceful nuclear facilities.

A brief description of the cooperation with the IAEA during 1967 is given at the beginning of the report.

The report covers the industrial applications of radioisotopes and the research and development that were undertaken in this field. It also contains a section on the progress which has been achieved in the nuclear power plant project as well as the activities of the IAEC in the field of food preservation by irradiation.

A section has been included in this report to cover the additional new buildings and laboratories which have been completed and inaugurated during this year. Such new facilities are necessary to cope with the expansion in research and development despite the Israeli criminal act and the continuous war imposed by Iran.

Research activities in the nuclear research centre are summarized in the form of abstracts at the end of the report.

UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE FOR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Iraq has actively participated in the UNCPIC-PUNE, held in Geneva from 21st March to 10th April 1987.

The message addressed to the conference by H E President Saddam Hussein highlighted the importance Iraq attaches to growing cooperation among nations in the field of nuclear energy and in the role the Agency can play in promoting such cooperation

On the occasion of holding the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, I avail myself of the opportunity to express to the participants my sincere greetings and wishes for success in their noble mission.

This Conference, after such a long period of preparatory work, is being held today under a very complex international situation, marked with a feverish nuclear arms race between East and West, massive accumulation of conventional and nuclear weapons, intensification of international and regional tension and conflicts, flagrant violation of laws, human norms and values and good neighborly relations among nations. Furthermore, there are increasing tendencies of aggression, domination, expansion and non-respect of the independence of states and their free choices. This state of affairs compels many nations to work to secure the requirements to defend themselves against threats facing them.

This, in turn, leads to the exhaustion of their resources and wealth which could be otherwise directed toward economic development, including the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for social and economic development.

As you are aware, nuclear energy is an important source of energy needed by the world at large and the developing countries in particular because of the importance of its peaceful applications for economic and social development in most of these countries.

Proceeding from the principle of sovereign equality, it is the right of all countries to possess and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in accordance with their priorities, interests and needs under appropriate internationally agreed guarantees that would prevent all forms of nuclear proliferation without any discrimination.

Consequently, it must be stressed that a wide and unrestricted transfer of equipment, technology and information is inevitably necessary for the development of the peaceful applications of nuclear energy with maximum safety and minimum risks.

Therefore, we hope that all participants in this Conference will work hard with the aim of creating an atmosphere conducive to the promotion of international cooperation without hampering the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology or exerting pressures on developing countries to prevent them from carrying on with their peaceful nuclear programmes.

On this occasion, we would like to highlight the responsibility of this Conference for supporting international efforts to find effective measures to protect nuclear installations against any deliberate armed attack which could lead to the release of deadly atomic radiation whose consequences are tantamount to the use of radiological weapons.

Such a protection for nuclear installations is a necessity dictated by the international consensus to prevent the repetition of the kind of attack which was carried out on June 7,1981 by Israel against the Iraqi peaceful nuclear facilities which are under the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards. This aggression was strongly condemned by the international community, the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly and the IAEA as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international norms of conduct, a grave threat to international peace and security, an attack on the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and the IAEA safeguards and an aggression on the inalienable right of states to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

We also call upon this Conference to exert pressure on the racist regimes in Tel Aviv and Pretoria to comply with UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions calling upon them to submit their nuclear facilities to international safeguards and to undertake not to repeat any armed aggression against nuclear facilities.

I, once more, greet you and hail your efforts to promote international cooperation in this vital field for the sake of prosperity and development. Thank you.

Cooperation between the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission and the international Atomic Energy Agency has been growing for the last two decades. During 1967, significant progress was made in various areas of cooperation as follows:

A. During September 1987 meeting of the Board of Governors, Iraq was elected as Vice - chairman of the Board for the period, Sept. 1987 to Sept. 1988.

B. Iraq, guided by its own policy of promoting the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy with maximum safety, has signed the two conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency,

A. Dosimetry and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory (IRQ/9/005) : Under this on going multi - year project, the Agency provided additional expert services together with nuclear electronic and radiation protection equipments, training of personnel, and scientific visits for Iraqi scientists. This project will contribute to manpower development and to the improvement of radiation protection and heath physics in Iraq.

B. Nuclear power safety (IRQ/9/004) : This multi-year project was originally approved in 1980, then postponed for some time because of the war imposed by Iran and the Israeli air-attack on the Tammuz 1 Reactor in June, 1981. Under this project the IAEC, in cooperation with the Agency, carried out several activities such as:

a. Evaluation of the first stage results and preparation of the requirements for the second stage of the NPPP site selection.

b. Modification of the nuclear safety standards (NUSS) to meet the Iraqi conditions.

e. Expert consultation in the preparation of the safety report for IRT-5000 Reactor.

A number of Arab countries, including Iraq, have shown considerable interest in developing their own system for radiological environmental monitoring.

Under this multi-year project, the Agency has first provided expert services in connection with the programme formulation and the preparation of a work plan. This was followed by providing equipments, training, and further expert services.

Within the framework of the IAEA Coordinated Research Programme (CRP) on the "Development of ^99mTc Generators using Low Power Research Reactors", our Radioisotopes Production Department joined this activity. The aim of this project was to develop an appropriate ^99mTc generator using medium to low specific activity (n,y) - produced ^99mMo and to separate the ^99mTc by sublimation. Research efforts are primarily directed towards the production of the new target material titanium molybdate and the development of a simple, compact and transportable ^99mTc- generator system suitable for safe use in the environment of a radiopharmaceutical hospital unit.

B . Pilot Scale Radiation Disinfestation of Dry Dales with Emphasis on Packaging.

The aim of this project is the evaluation of insect-proof packages for long term storage of dry dates either irradiated or treated with mild heat (40"C) and 3 doses of gamma radiation. Other aspects have aim been studied and they are as follows:

a. Evaluation of trial shipments of packed dry dates, treated with gamma radiation or methyl bromide fumigation.

b. Evaluation of the level of dry date infestation by insects that survive irradiation doses or combined treatment.

c . Investigation of appropriate quantitative and qualitative chemical changes induced in dates by gamma radiation alone or by combined treatment of irradiation plus mild heat.

C. Migration and Interaction of Radioactive Waste Radionuclides in Major Soils of Iraq

The project is concerned with the migration behaviour and retention mechanisms of the major waste radionuclides in major soils of Iraq. This study includes extraction, adsorption and fractionation under various physical and chemical soil conditions. Mobility of radionuclides will be studied under dynamic conditions using nondestructive techniques.

D - Quality Control Scheme for Thyroid - Related Hormones Measured by Radioimmunoassays

In Iraq there are 8 main laboratories in which measurement of thyroid hormones is a routine practice, and most of the measurements are of unknown reliability. Furthermore, there is no quality control scheme, which certainly affects the results. The programme should help in better understanding of laboratory problems and, in part, is a troubleshooting programme

During 1987, about 40 personnel attended the training courses, seminars, and symposia which were organized by the Agency in various fields of nuclear applications.

The IAEC is actively proceeding with the Implementation of site selection for the first Nuclear Power Plant. During 1987, the NPPP carried out the following activities:

1 . A comprehensive survey has been made to assess the potential capabilities of national organizations in implementing the various activities involved in the process of NPPP site selection. At the end of this survey, a decision has been made to fully utilize the local capabilities in the execution of these activities.

2. A technical programme for the site selection of the NPPP was prepared in cooperation with the Soviet Organization, Atomenergoexport (AEE), which is anticipated to provide the necessary engineering consultancy and technical know-how to implement the programme.

3. A formal Quality Assurance Programme Description for Siting (QAPD-S) was established.

4. A three-year programme has been started for compilation of historical data to establish an earthquake catalogue for Iraq and neighboring territories. The purpose of this catalogue is to serve in future as a basis in the analysis of earthquake for NPPP. The work is carried out in accordance with requirements of the (QAPD-S).

5. Close cooperation was maintained with IAEA. During 1967, IAEA experts participated in the preparation of the (QAPD-S) and the evaluation of AEE'S offer to carry out the site selection and evaluation works as a contractor. The review of the work plan and work procedure of the historical earthquake catalogue was also accomplished.

Despite the Israeli attack on the the peaceful Tammuz reactor and the continuing war imposed by Iran which were intended, among other things, to impede the scientific progress in Iraq, the IAEC went ahead in its peaceful nuclear programme. This was crowned by the completion and inauguration of new facilities in 1967 to keep in pace with the progress in various fields of science.

The expansions in buildings and laboratories are to accommodate the increasing number of scientists and their supporting staff as well as of administrative and technical services.