Iran starts enriching uranium at Fordo plant
Iran enriched uranium by up to 20% with a new centrifuge at a safe site.
Iran has started enriching uranium at its Fordo nuclear plant. For this he has used sophisticated centrifuges.
Centrifuges are used to obtain high levels of purity of enriched uranium.
Under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran cannot enrich uranium beyond 3.67%. It is exempted only in respect of reactor research activities.
The JCPOA was signed by Iran and P5+1 country.
P5+1 Countries: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and Germany (+1). In the year 2018, the US pulled out of this agreement.
Enrichment of uranium is a process to make effective nuclear fuel. This is done by increasing the percentage of U-235 in natural uranium to various enrichment levels.
Different levels of enrichment:
- Low enriched uranium: Below 5% of U-235 it is commonly used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
- Highly enriched uranium: 20% or more of U-235. This is commonly used in nuclear research, propulsion of naval ships/submarines, etc.
- Weapon Grade: 90% or higher of U-235.
Uranium (U)
- It is a naturally occurring radioactive element.
- Naturally, 99.27% of uranium exists as U-238.
- The rest is present in the form of isotopes. These isotopes are: U-235 (0.72%), U-234 (0.006%), etc. It is found in small amounts in all types of rocks and soils, in water and air, and in substances made of natural elements.
- It is a reactive metal. Therefore, uranium does not exist freely in the environment.
Source – The Hindu
