Nuclear scientist warns of dangers at Dimona plant

"The technology in the Dimona reactor and the reactors in Japan is similar, and over 40 years old," Prof. Uzi Even explains.

By GLOBES' CORRESPONDENT
311_dimona reactor (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
311_dimona reactor
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Prof. Uzi Even, a former top official at the Nuclear Research Center in Dimona, on Thursday warned that the reactor is aging and possible damage to its cooling system could result in a breakdown with far-reaching consequences.
Even noted that the technology in the Dimona reactor and the reactors in Japan was similar. "The reactors were built about the same time, 40-50 years ago. In principle, the planning of the reactors is similar. The soft underbelly is the cooling system, which must be operated with great force, even after the reactor is turned out," he said.
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"If there is a breakdown in the cooling system, it will cause the core to collapse. That is what happened at the Japanese reactors," Even continued.
Despite the different natural conditions between the Negev Desert at Dimona and inJapan, Even warned that aging systems at Dimona and the lack of outside oversight on operations at the reactor posed a real threat of a serious breakdown. "While we don’t have tsunamis or such strong earthquakes, the chances of a breakdown in the cooling system, either by chance or deliberately, are very great. Our reactor is 50 years old, far older than what is permitted to operate in other countries."
Israel's security situation poses a major threat of nuclear disaster. "Another factor here, which is absent in Japan, is the possibility of deliberate sabotage of the reactor's cooling system. We have enough crazies who wouldn’t hesitate to do it if they could," said Even.