Da Lat nuclear furnace 'switched' uranium

Yesterday, the fuel in Da Lat nuclear reactor was completely replaced by low-enriched uranium, confirming Vietnam's commitment to using nuclear energy for peace.

"All fuel with 36% richness is replaced by fuel with 19.75% richness , " said Dr. Nguyen Nhi Dien, director of Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute.

In theory, high-fuel fuels may be at great risk of being mined to process fuel for nuclear weapons. Therefore, since 1978, concerned with this issue, the United States has been at the forefront and called on countries with nuclear power plants to use uranium below 20%.

This is part of a joint effort by three countries, Vietnam, Russia, the United States and the International Energy Agency (IAEA), to increase the use of nuclear for peaceful purposes, and minimize the risk of insecurity. for the world from rich uranium fuel.

"With this event, Vietnam has affirmed its goal of using atomic energy for peaceful purposes, taking into account the international commitment of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons," Dr. Dien said.

Rich uranium is the fuel used in most nuclear reactors, including kilns in Da Lat. Rich uranium is also divided into two categories: low rich and high rich.

The type of uranium fuel produced in Russia has been used since the 1980s until recent years at the Da Lat kiln containing 36% of uranium, known as high-enriched uranium. The new fuel contains nearly 20% uranium, called low-enriched uranium.