Iran foresees sharp rise in uranium production

TIN news:  Iran’s nuclear chief says the country is to produce about 40 tonnes of uranium this year, more than half the total amount yielded over the preceding years.
Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, made the remarks in a televised interview on Sunday.
Over 70 percent of the country’s terrain has been subjected to aerial prospecting for uranium, he said, adding, “Contrary to our previous perception, our country is not poor in uranium resources, and we will be able to satisfy our needs over the next several years.”
Should the country fail to produce its uranium, it will come under pressure in the process of obtaining it from foreign sources, Salehi said.
The official said that since the conclusion of the nuclear accord between Iran and the P5+1 countries -- the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany -- in July 2015, the Islamic Republic has purchased 360 tonnes of yellowcake -- a type of uranium condensate powder.
As a member of the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission monitoring the implementation of the nuclear agreement, the UK prevented Iran from further purchases of 900 tonnes, Salehi said.
“This is while it is up to us to decide how much (yellocake) we need. Therefore, we have to show to the opposite side that we are self-reliant so they do not make up excuses.”
Salehi said the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran and two other facilities which are to be built over the next 10 years will need a total of 600 tonnes of uranium a day for their operation.