IAEA to mull construction of Azeri nuclear reactor

MAGATE (the International Atomic Energy Agency) will discuss Azerbaijan’s building a nuclear reactor at the 51st session of its General Assembly due September 17-21, an IAEA representative on nuclear science said.

Adil Garibov, director of the Institute of Radiation Problems of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, said the Azerbaijani government has provided its consent for building the facility.

“If the project is approved by the IAEA assembly, construction operations will kick off in 2009,” he said.

Construction of a reactor will be the first-ever project to be implemented in the country in the field of nuclear research.

Garibov said the agency would also discuss installation of up-to-date equipment in Azerbaijan to sterilize food using cutting-edge radiation technology.

The institute director added that IAEA has already provided preliminary consent for these activities.

Azerbaijan joined the IAEA in 2001 and has already ratified 12 of its conventions.*