Consturction of 3rd Khushab reactor intensified

[naumananjum]

Salamzz all
Is this Khusab project is under Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission?
.
and what is the basic purpose of this reactor and Khusab 1 and 2 reactors
They aren't producing electriciy

 

[naumananjum]

is it a plotonium reprocessing plant?

 

[naumananjum]

if it is plotonium re processing plant or any thing sle other then power generation
then is there any possibility to use their heat output for power generation?

 

[TaimiKhan]

Salamzz all
Is this Khusab project is under Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission?
.
and what is the basic purpose of this reactor and Khusab 1 and 2 reactors
They aren't producing electriciy

is it a plotonium reprocessing plant?

if it is plotonium re processing plant or any thing sle other then power generation
then is there any possibility to use their heat output for power generation?

Khushab is used for Plutonium production, weapon related material production only. PAEC is involved in every nuke reaction, be it civil or military fissile production material.

And they are not used for power generation nor are they connected to the power grid.

 

[Arsalan]

Salamzz all
Is this Khusab project is under Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission?
.
and what is the basic purpose of this reactor and Khusab 1 and 2 reactors
They aren't producing electriciy

it is for plutonium production for military purpose..
not linked to power generation.

regards!

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

Construction of Third Heavy Water Reactor at Khushab Nuclear Site in Pakistan Progressing ​

by Paul Brannan

October 5, 2010


ISIS has obtained new satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe of the Khushab military nuclear site in Pakistan. The image from September 9, 2010 shows construction of the third heavy water reactor progressing, with a row of mechanical draft cooling towers that appears finished (see figure 1). The previous available image, a GeoEye photo from December 31, 2009 on Google Earth, shows the row of cooling towers for the third reactor under construction (see figure 2). In the same photo, ISIS noted steam being emitted from the cooling towers of the second Khushab reactor, indicating that it was at some stage of initial operation. Pakistan announced the operation of its first heavy water reactor at Khushab in 1998. Pakistan began building the second heavy water reactor at Khushab between 2000 and 2002. It began building the third reactor during 2006. These reactors support Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

Construction of the third reactor has progressed more quickly than the second reactor. This is evident when comparing the two reactors at similar points in their construction. From the time of initial clearing and excavation for the second reactor, it took at least six years before its cooling towers appeared complete in commercial satellite imagery. In contrast, it took Pakistan less than fives years from when initial excavation is visible in commercial satellite imagery until the third reactor’s cooling towers appear finished.

Though steam can be seen rising from some of the second reactor’s cooling tower fan blades in December 31st, 2009 image, steam cannot be seen above the second reactor’s cooling towers in the latest September 9, 2010 image. During a reactor’s start-up phase, however, the reactor may not be operated continuously. Furthermore, as always, atmospheric conditions can determine whether or not steam will be visible in commercial satellite imagery.

Figure 1. DigitalGlobe satellite image from September 9, 2010 of the Khushab nuclear site in Pakistan. The third heavy water reactor can be seen along with a row of mechanical draft cooling towers that appears complete. The second heavy reactor can be seen directly below the third reactor.

Figure 2. GeoEye image available on Google Earth of the second and third Khushab reactors on December 31, 2009. The foundation for the row of cooling towers for the third reactor can be seen in the image.

http://isis-online.org/isis-reports...-reactor-at-khushab-nuclear-site-in-pakist/#1

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

Steam Emitted From Second Khushab Reactor Cooling Towers; Pakistan May Be Operating Second Reactor ​

by Paul Brannan

March 24, 2010

Download PDF


GoogleEarth recently posted satellite imagery from GeoEye featuring the Khushab nuclear site in Pakistan. Imagery dated December 31, 2009 shows what appears to be steam distorting the view of some of the cooling tower fan blades for the second plutonium production Khushab reactor (see figure 1). This would indicate that the second Khushab reactor is at least at some state of initial operation.

On April 23, 2009, ISIS determined from DigitalGlobe satellite imagery that major construction of the second Khushab reactor was likely finished, and that it could soon begin operation. In February 2010, Zia Mian reported that Pakistan may have completed the second Khushab reactor, citing a recent visit to the site by the Prime Minister where he reportedly congratulated engineers for “completing important projects.”

Pakistan has one plutonium production reactor already operational at Khushab. Pakistan began building the second Khushab reactor sometime between 2000 and 2002. Pakistan began building a third Khushab reactor sometime around the middle of 2006. These Khushab reactors support Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

Institute for Science and International Security › ISIS Reports › Pakistan › Steam Emitted From Second Khushab Reactor Cooling Towers; Pakistan May Be Operating Second Reactor

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

Analysis of IKONOS Imagery of the Plutonium Production Reactor at Khushab, Pakistan​

March 16, 2000

Pakistan announced the operation of the reactor in April of 1998, just prior to its nuclear weapons tests. For years, Pakistan denied the existence of this reactor.**
Preliminary ISIS thermal analysis using Landsat-7 imagery from July 1999 was inconclusive in establishing the operational status of the reactor.
The reactor is believed to have a capacity of about 50 megawatts-thermal (MWth), use natural uranium fuel, and be heavy water (D2O) moderated and cooled. This reactor requires an estimated 40 tonnes* of heavy water.
The reactor is estimated to be able to produce enough plutonium for a few nuclear weapons a year.
The size of the cooling towers indicates that they are capable of dissipating 50-100 megawatts of heat.
There is no indication of electrical power production at the site.
There is no reprocessing facility at the Khushab site.
Before the reactor could operate, Pakistan needed a source of unsafeguarded heavy water. The location of Pakistan’s heavy water production plant was publicly unknown until now. Although the reactor may have had other sources of heavy water, this heavy water plant is large enough to have met the reactor’s requirements.

* A tonne is a metric ton, equivalent to 1000 kilograms or 2200 pounds.

** For example, in 1992 a spokesman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) strongly contradicted the report by David Albright and Tom Zamora that Pakistan was erecting a 50 MWth atomic reactor. The spokesman expressed surprise over such “concocted” stories and said that Pakistan was considering dealing with the situation on a diplomatic level.

To go to the analysis of the newly-identified heavy water plant at Khushab, click here.

Institute for Science and International Security › ISIS Reports › Pakistan › Analysis of IKONOS Imagery of the Plutonium Production Reactor at Khushab, Pakistan

 

[S_O_C_O_M]

Interesting Read:

http://isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/ThirdKhushabReactor.pdf

 

[Arsalan]

oh God,,
and still we call them secret facilities..

look at the resolution of images, and these are the ones available to public!!

 

[VCheng]

oh God,,
and still we call them secret facilities..

look at the resolution of images, and these are the ones available to public!!

You should see the ones where you can read licence plates and see whether somebody shaved that morning or not!

 

[Areesh]

oh God,,
and still we call them secret facilities..

look at the resolution of images, and these are the ones available to public!!

I was also thinking the same. Where is the secrecy? Lolzzz

 

[Arsalan]

well but even with all this technology the sites where the nukes are stored and the missile warehouses are still not know to the world...
it is still a mystery for the US and west and they dont know the locations of these sites. there had been some attempts to track these sites (i am quotig my father and an uncle) but alham du Alhamdulillah all these failed.

hats off the SPD,

thanks to Allah AllMighty!!

 

[All-Green]

I was also thinking the same. Where is the secrecy? Lolzzz

There is no absolute secrecy these days since one cannot block satellites from taking images, however satellite imagery is one piece of information and may not reflect the whole picture.
For this reason there is strict security and on ground photos are prohibited across such areas.

Those who go to admire the view on ground are soon met by a friendly person who has a nice little chat with them.

 

[Sinnerman108]

oh God,,
and still we call them secret facilities..

look at the resolution of images, and these are the ones available to public!!

Actually you can buy commercial satellite imagery of upto 30cm resolution easily.

If you have to go below even 30 cm, then you have to have your own satellite.

This picture is not that High rez,

For islamabad, when we got the 30cm maps we could actually plot the cateyes on the road.