Iraq is moving forward with plans to construct its first nuclear training reactor, following the clearance of three former nuclear sites near Baghdad from radioactive contamination. The initiative, in collaboration with China, signals a major step in Iraq’s ambitions to revive peaceful nuclear research and academic training.
At a recent press conference, Minister of Higher Education and head of the Atomic Energy Commission Naeem al-Aboudi confirmed that extensive environmental assessments and decontamination efforts have ensured that the Al-Tuwaitha nuclear complex, located southeast of Baghdad, no longer poses any radiological risk.
“The French-built LAMA laboratories, the Italian radioisotope production facility, and the Tamuz-2 research reactor have all been officially declared free of radioactive residue,” Aboudi said. He described the clearance process as both a “national and ethical responsibility,” conducted in accordance with international safety protocols.
Aboudi added that Iraq is now ready to finalize a strategic agreement with the China Atomic Energy Authority to begin building a sub-critical nuclear reactor—a facility designed for educational and scientific purposes, without sustaining a chain reaction. A Chinese delegation is expected to visit Baghdad shortly to complete the agreement, with construction projected to begin within a month.
“This reactor will serve as the foundation for advanced nuclear training and research, and may become the first of its kind in the region,” said Aboudi. “It will offer Iraqi students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nuclear physics and radiological sciences, preparing a new generation of experts.”
The project is part of a broader Iraqi initiative to rebuild its nuclear science infrastructure, decades after earlier efforts were dismantled. Iraq’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities was halted after Israel’s 1981 airstrike on the Osirak (Tammuz) reactor, which was being built with French assistance just south of Baghdad. The strike, known as Operation Opera, destroyed the reactor and killed at least 11 Iraqis, including military staff.
As Iraq looks to the future, it also continues to engage with international institutions regarding the legacy of its past nuclear activities. In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded that depleted uranium (DU) contamination in four southern Iraqi cities following the 2003 conflict posed minimal long-term radiological risk. While estimated annual radiation doses were well below international safety thresholds, the IAEA warned against direct contact with DU-affected vehicles and materials, advising public access restrictions and proper waste disposal.
Source: NewArab.com
