Iran to run 6 more uranium mines as reserves greater than estimated: AEOI chief

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the Islamic Republic’s uranium reserves are much larger than previous estimates, and that the country plans to operate six more uranium mines by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (which concludes on March 20, 2024).

Mohammad Eslami said on Sunday that currently eight uranium mines are operating in the country.

“Our uranium reserves in the country now exceed the previous estimates. We are currently operating eight mines, and six more mines are planned to come on stream by the end of the [Iranian calendar] year,” he said.

He added that over the past year and a half, they have located and run several mines to complete the nuclear fuel chain.

Eslami further said that the extraction of uranium ore from mines and its process through the heap leaching method greatly benefits the chain of valuable elements.

“The AEOI has drawn up and compiled a 20-year perspective plan to pave the way to attain Iran’s nuclear industry objectives,” he added.

Eslami said thanks to the plan, the agency has a proper understanding of the path ahead both at national and international levels and is moving forward with a viable strategy.

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The AEOI chief also said that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has offered solid support to the expansion of the civilian nuclear industry.

“The Leader’s guidelines have helped the agency to operate more strongly and determinedly,” he said.

He added that the production of about 20,000 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity was among the main topics discussed during a recent meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that threats, assassinations, sanctions, and pressures did not shake Iranian nuclear scientists’ confidence.

Elsmai stated that Iran has held negotiations with different countries to carry out joint work on the construction of power plants, saying that the supply of fuel for small nuclear power plants was another measure taken in this regard.

He said the AEOI registered 159 scientific, technological, and industrial achievements throughout the previous Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20, 2023).

Earlier this month Eslami announced that Iran has for the first time manufactured a nuclear reactor simulator, applauding the feat as a monumental achievement in the field of high tech.

He said the simulator plays an “effective” part in a power plant and a power reactor.

The simulator is designed to manage the control chamber temperature and has a thermal capacity of 100 megawatts.

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