Iran claims new nuclear breakthrough
AFP
Date: 08-29-05
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran announced it has made another breakthrough in its controversial nuclear programme by successfully using biotechnology to extract purer uranium from its mines.
A report on state television said researchers from Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, after six years of research, had mastered the technique of employing microbes to purify uranium ore in mines prior to mining.
It said "using biotechnology substantially decreases the cost, increases optimisation and prevents environmental contamination" in the process that leads to the production of yellowcake, or concentrated uranium oxide.
The report, quoting a senior researcher, said the microbes were "successfully used in experimental stages" in central Iran's uranium mines.
"This bacteria is very valuable" and makes the production of yellowcake "100 to 200 times cheaper", he said.
Yellowcake is a part of the early stages of the nuclear fuel cycle -- a process that Iran insists it only wants to master so it can generate electricity.
The United States in particular accuses Iran of using atomic energy as a cover for nuclear weapons development.
The latest development, touted by Iranian state television as a "breakthrough", is likely to reinforce the impression among Iran's critics that even though Tehran has been forced to suspend certain fuel cycle activities it has continued to make great strides on others.
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