China's Nuclear Exports and Assistance to Algeria

China's Nuclear Exports and Assistance to Algeria - Statements and Developments

This chronology includes statements and developments related to China's nuclear-related exports and assistance to Algeria, including allegations of assistance, and US, Chinese, and Algerian positions on the issue.

For more in-depth information on open-source reports of Chinese exports and assistance, please consult the CNS Nuclear Abstracts database.

1996

9/96: China and Algeria were ready to start the next phase of nuclear cooperation, adding hot cell facilities and an isotope production complex to the Ain Oussera site. Algeria has promised to safeguard all of its nuclear activities and has started implementing an environmental monitoring program to detect any possible clandestine efforts to reprocess plutonium from the reactor. [Mark Hibbs, "US, China Aim To Relaunch Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," Nucleonics Week, 19 September 1996, p. 3.]

1995

6/95: US government analysts said Algeria's 15 MW reactor, built by China in the 1980s, produces less weapons-grade plutonium than generally believed. The analysts said that the Algerian reactor is fueled by 3 percent enriched uranium instead of natural uranium, which allows only 1 kg of plutonium to be formed per year of operation. The reactor is also capable of producing 1 kg of plutonium by irradiating uranium blankets. Thus, the reactor would only be capable of producing a maximum supply of 2 kg of plutonium. [The Risk Report, June 1995, p. 12.]

1994

10/5/94: It was reported that US officials believe that China is providing Iran and Algeria with "potential nuclear weapons technology." [Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 5 October 1994, p. A3.]

1993

12/93: In an interview following the dedication of Algeria's El Salem nuclear reactor, built with Chinese assistance, Chinese Atomic Energy Vice-President Li Dingfan said that China and Algeria have been cooperating in the nuclear sector for six years and predicted that this collaboration would continue. Li said, "if there is a desire for cooperation, there is no doubt that we shall be available and present." [El Moudjahid (Algiers), 22 December 1993, p. 3.; in JPRS-TND-94-005, 25 February 1994, p. 10.]

1992

2/92: Algeria signed a safeguards agreement with the IAEA which will allow inspections of the Chinese-supplied research reactor. ["China Exports To Syria, Algeria Covered By IAEA," Nuclear News, April 1992, p. 65.]

1991

7/91: It was reported that after US allegations of Chinese aid in building the reactor, China and Algeria showed the United States the specifications of the reactor. ["Algeria And China Hand Over Reactor Data," Nuclear Engineering International, July 1991, p. 10.]

6/24/91: In response to an article on China's export of nuclear technology and the provision of a small (15 MWt) heavy-water research reactor to Algeria, Chen Guoqing, press counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, explained that PRC-Algerian nuclear cooperation is solely for peaceful purposes. Chen said that China, in exporting nuclear technology, attains guarantees for peaceful use, complies with IAEA safeguards, and prohibits transfers to third countries. Chen also stated that "China does not encourage or engage in nuclear proliferation..." ["Envoy Refutes Nuclear Allegations," Nuclear Developments, 24 June 1991, p. 2.]

6/1/91: Chen Guoqing, in a letter to The New York Times, stated:

"Chinese-Algerian nuclear cooperation is entirely for peaceful purposes, and the reactor cannot possibly be used to make nuclear weapons."

"In exporting nuclear technology, China adheres to the three principles: guarantee for peaceful use, submission to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and supervision and nontransfer to third countries."

"China does not encourage or engage in nuclear proliferation nor help other countries develop nuclear weapons." [Xinhua, 1 June 1991; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]

4/30/91: A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated:

"The cooperation between China and Algeria in [the] nuclear field is entirely for peaceful purposes."

"In February 1983, China and Algeria signed a protocol on nuclear cooperation, in which China agreed to provide Algeria with a heavy water reactor for research."

"The power of the reactor is very small, with a designed power of 10 megawatts and the maximum thermal power of 15 megawatts. It will be totally groundless to allege, as some Western media do, that the reactor can be used to make nuclear weapons." [Xinhua, 30 April 1991; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]

4/11/91: It was reported that China is supplying Algeria with technology on how to match nuclear warheads to missile delivery systems. ["China Helps Algeria Develop Nuclear Weapons," Washington Times, 11 April 1991.]

1/91: US satellites detected the existence of the Chinese-supplied Algerian reactor. ["Algeria And China Hand Over Reactor Data," Nuclear Engineering International, July 1991, p. 10.]

[CHINA'S NUCLEAR EXPORTS AND ASSISTANCE TO ALGERIA]

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by MIIS.