Syria

Nuclear Facilities Profiles

Syria’s nuclear program consists of several facilities at its research center at Dayr al-Jajar. Though the IAEA lists several proposed Syrian nuclear-related projects, only a few have progressed to construction of material facilities. For example, the IAEA notes a 1999 Syrian project with the objective of establishing a radioactive waste management facility.(16) However, this project does not appear to have progressed to the point of construction of the facility. The same can be said for reported plans to construct facilities for extracting uranium from phosphoric acid and an ion beam accelerator. Some analysts assess that Syria intended to begin a significant programme to extract uranium from phosphate. There are phosphate deposits at Charkiet, Knifes, Sawwaneh, and Wadi Qasser Al-Hallabat. Syria possesses a commercial fertilizer plant located at Homs, which produces phosphoric acid from phosphatic rock mined. The deposits contain about 60 to 100 parts per million of uranium.(17) Syria with the assistance of the IAEA explored the possibility of a larger scale project to exploit its considerable phosphate deposits for uranium, but those plans do not appear to have progressed beyond the planning states. Syria’s work in the area of phosphate is overseen by the General Company for Phosphates and Mines.

The IAEA lists numerous projects for nuclear-related facilities. However it is not clear whether these projects have progressed beyond planning or exploratory stages. A partial list of those projects follows:

Uranium Mining and Milling infrastructure

Syria is a significant producer of phosphate from which uranium can be extracted. During the 1980s Syria began studies with the IAEA to explore the feasibility of extracting uranium from phosphoric acid for use in a future nuclear power programme. In the early 1980s, the IAEA assisted Syria in uranium exploration activities and a survey to assess Syria’s potential to produce uranium indigenously. A feasibility study completed in 1986 indicated that given Syria’s existing infrastructure and global uranium prices, it was more economical for Syria to purchase uranium on the open market. According to the IAEA the results of the pre-feasibility studies indicate that while the basic technology for extracting uranium from the phosphoric acid produced at the Homs plant is workable, the industrialization of the process is not at present advisable in view of the depressed world market price of uranium. In 1996 the United Nations Development Programme funded a project to assist Syria with a pilot plant to purify phosphoric acid by extracting uranium at Homs plant. However, this project was part of a larger commercial effort to make Triple Super Phosphate Fertilizer.

Nuclear Analytical Laboratory(20)

The IAEA assisted the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) in establishing this analytical laboratory, which was completed in 1990 and is equipped to apply ‘nuclear techniques’.(21) The IAEA initially helped equip the laboratory with systems for atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, gas and liquid chromatography, fluorimetry and low-level alpha, beta and gamma counting. The laboratory reportedly provides a range of analytical services, including analysis of geological samples for uranium. Though the IAEA lists the AECS as the institute involved with this laboratory and the AECS is headquartered in Damascus, it is not clear if this means the laboratory is also located in Damascus.

Micro Plant Facility(22)

As part of a project to assess the feasibility of extracting uranium from phosphoric acid, the IAEA ‘provided the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) with a micro-plant facility, spare parts and chemicals to enable yellow cake uranium to be recovered on an experimental basis from the phosphoric acid produced at [the] Homs [fertilizer] plant.’ This facility could serve as the prototype for a commercial plant if Syria would forward with a large-scale project to extract uranium for a nuclear power programme. However, so far, that seems unlikely.

Cyclotron Facility for Medical Radioisotopes(23)

The cyclotron facility, approved by the IAEA in 1997, is primarily designed to improve and expand ‘the availability of health care in areas of high national importance while reducing overall diagnosis and management costs per patient.’ This facility’s purpose is for the production of short-lived radiopharmaceuticals, and ‘to promote their full utilization in medical practice.’ The cyclotron facility is part of the Nuclear Medicine Center located at Damascus.

Miniature Neutron Source Reactor(24)

In 1991 the IAEA approved the sale and construction of the SRR-1 Chinese-built 30 kW miniature neutron source reactor. The reactor, which is located at the Dayr al-Jajar Nuclear Research Centre near Damascus, went critical in 1996. Its main purpose is neutron activation analysis, training, and small-scale radioisotope production.(25) This reactor does not appear to be suitable for weapons purposes.

Sources

(16) See the IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb.
(17) See the IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, SYR/3/003, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/projectinfo.
(18) Though the IAEA reports that a “micro-plant facility” was part of this project, it is unclear whre that facility resides.
(19) This project was begun when Syria was in negotiations with the Soviet Union for a 10M research reactor. However, when negotiations fell through the project was closed.
(20) See the IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb, See Project SYR/1/002
(21) The ambiguous phrase “nuclear techniques” comes from the IAEA’s technical cooperation database which does not elaborate on its specific meaning.
(22) IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb SYR/3/003,
(23) IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb SYR/4/007,
(24) IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb SYR/4/004,
(25) IAEA Technical Cooperation Database, http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb SYR/4/006,

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