Draft:The Algerian Nuclear Program


The Algerian Flag

the Algerian Nuclear Program was launched in 1981 with the cooperation of Argentina first, then the cooperation with the Chinese People's Republic. Algeria has since denied developing a military nuclear program and signed the treaty of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in 1995. Although, some sources such as the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia espagnol estimate in 1998 that "Algeria had the intention to produce enriched Plutonium for military purposes, a material capable of producing a nuclear weapon.[1]"

History

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Aïn Oussara nuclear reactor: Es Salam

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In 1983, the National People's Army signed an agreement with the People's Republic of China for the provision of a nuclear reactor of 15 thermal megawatts, named Es-Salam («peace»), that was fabricated in the 1980s on the site of Aïn Oussera. The reactor uses the heavy water as a moderator fluid, easily diverged for military use: it could allow the transformation from natural uranium, to produce in only one year enough plutonium of the quality necessary for a bomb[2]

the Algerian reactor was not discovered until 1991 by a reconnaissance satellite of the US Air Force.

Draria Nuclear Reactor: NUR

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accordingly, in 1989, Algeria acquires a reactor of light water (composed of uranium 235 highly enriched to 20%) made with silver, named NUR (Nuclear Uranium Reactor) and a power of a thermal megawatt[2], furthermore monitored by the International atomic Energy Agency and which, according to it, does not involve a risk of proliferation.

A little after an article published by Washington Times,US Air Force reconnaissance satellites flew over the Aïn Oussera site, leading to controversy in the intelligence community over the use, military or not, of the site .However, in retrospect, it is obvious that these articles were published for propaganda purposes: in fact, dates are regularly given for Algeria to obtain nuclear weapons. These announcement effects have never been based on scientific foundations and many deadlines have been missed without Algeria having produced nuclear weapons, nor the IAEA having ever had to announce his slightest doubt.

Electricity Production

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In 2008, Algeria hopes to build a Nuclear Power Plant to produce electricity, Algeria thus sought to examine a cooperation with France, USA and Russia.[3] Until 2022, no nuclear power plant is yet declared to be built.

Notes and References

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  1. ^ Jeffrey Fields, Jack Boureston (2009). "Country Profile: Algeria". sipri.org. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b Tertrais, Bruno (2009). Le Marché noir de la bombe (in French). Paris: Buchet/Chastel. p. 260. ISBN 978-2-283-02391-4.
  3. ^ "Bouteflika relance le nucléaire avec Moscou". lexpressiondz.com (in French). 20 February 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2015.

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Algerian Nuclear Program sur le site de la National Security Archive