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Updated January 2006
Nuclear Facilities
Research and Development
Name: Nuclear Research Center (NRC)
Other Names: n/a
Location: Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: Atomic Energy Authority of Egypt (AEA)
Size: A complex of buildings with laboratories and reactors
Primary Function: Research and Development
Description: The NRC facility contains: The ET-RR-1 Reactor; Van De Graff accelerator; Semi-Pilot Fuel Laboratory; Fracture Mechanics Laboratory; Electronics Laboratory; Low Active Solid Waste Incinerator; and the Semi-Pilot Heavy Water Laboratory.
Name: The Inshas Cyclotron Facility (ICF)
Other Names: n/a
Location: Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: Atomic Energy Authority of Egypt (AEA)
Size: Large building or buildings containing accelerator(s) and supporting equipment
Primary Function: Research and Development
Description: The ICF is a multipurpose R&D facility based on a Russian-made MGC 20 AVF cyclotron. The cyclotron is a compact K=20 machine for positive ion acceleration of protons, deuterons, helions, and alpha particles up to energies of 20 Z2/A MeV and currents in the range of 200 and 50µA for hydrogen and helium ions, respectively. The cyclotron offers a universal source of charged particles and a source of fast neutrons from a beryllium target. It is used for training in nuclear physics of intermediate energies, cross-section data, production of cyclotron isotopes for medicine and agriculture (I123, I111, Ga68), the operation and use of cyclotrons, non-destructive analysis, radiation damage, analysis of geological samples, and radiation biology. In addition to the above mentioned MGC-20 cyclotron, it appears that the Soviet Union constructed a Van de Graf type 4 MW cyclotron at Inshas as a part of the original 1961 Soviet-Egyptian cooperation agreement. Since then, there have been numerous upgrades to this equipment.
Name: ETRR-1
Other Names: ET-RR-1 reactor, 2MW research reactor
Location: Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: Reactor Division, Nuclear Research Center, AEA
Primary Function: Neutron physics experiments
Description: The ETRR-1 is a light water reactor with a maximum thermal flux in core of 2 X1013 used for solid state, nuclear, and reactor physics, chemical research, isotope production, and biological irradiation. When first commissioned in 1961, it was one of the first reactors on the African continent and, thus, used heavily. In 1992, in response to a request for technical assistance, the IAEA coordinated with the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute (PNPI) to perform an in-service inspection (ISI) on the ETTR-1 reactor. PNPI personnel assessed the reactor's core, vessels, horizontal channels, spent fuel storage tanks, and spent fuel storage tanks. The results of those assessments lead to the AEA modernizing instrumentation and safety systems, fission chamber assemblies, and other equipment. A significant amount of the new equipment for the upgrades came from Hungary's KFKI and Gamma Werk. Some other equipment was supplied by Germany. Since the AEA commissioned ETRR-2 in 1997, ETRR-1 is used less frequently, but remains fully operational.
Type: 2MW Tank type research reactor
Fuel Type: 10% enriched uranium
Fuel Load: 4.5kg
Enrichment: 10%
Moderator: Light water
Start-up Date: 1961
Fuel Reload: None (that is known)
Provided by: Russia
Name: ETRR-2
Other Names: 22MW research reactor, Multi-purpose reactor
Location: Nuclear Research Center (NRC), Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: Reactor Division, Nuclear Research Center, AEA
Primary Function: Neutron Research and radiography
Description: ETRR-2 is mainly used for radioisotope production, medical and nuclear solid state research, condensed matter research, nuclear engineering experiments, material fuel tests, activation analysis, and various other fields to train scientists and technical personnel. As it was being constructed, nonproliferation analysts and US intelligence agency's were calling for serious investigation of the potential for this reactor to be used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. The Wisconsin Project wrote, "Argentina is building a nuclear reactor in Egypt that will give Cairo its first access to bomb quantities of fissile material, possibly enough to make one nuclear weapon per year."
Type: 22MW swimming pool research reactor
Fuel Type: 20% Enriched U308
Fuel Load: Up to 30 fuel elements, 19 plates per element
Start-up Date: 1997
Initial Fuel Load: 1997
Provided by: Investigaciones Aplicadas (INVAP), Argentina
Name: The National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT)
Other Names: n/a
Location: Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: AEA
Size: A large complex with multiple facilities and buildings within it
Primary Function: isotope production
Description: This center was established in 1972 aiming to promote research and development using ionizing radiation in medical, industrial, agricultural, environmental, and other applications. The NCRRT is organized into the divisions of Radiation Research, Industrial Irradiation, and Biotechnology. Major research and service facilities in the center include a mega gamma irradiation unit and an electron accelerator.
Name: Hot Laboratory and Waste Management Center (HLWMC)
Other Names: n/a
Location: Inshas, Egypt
Subordinate To: AEA
Size: A complex of several buildings containing laboratories and facilities
Primary Function: Waste treatment and analysis of irradiated material
Description: This center was established in 1980. It aims to develop expertise in the aspects of the back end of the fuel cycle including radwaste treatment and radioisotope production for various medical and industrial applications. Research facilities within the center include a low and intermediate level liquid waste station, radioisotope production laboratories, and a radwaste disposal site. The center operates several hot cells that it may have obtained from France.
Name: Ain Shams University
Other Names: n/a
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: 23 faculties and institutes, serving about 155,000 students with over 3,000 faculty members, 2,000 assistant lecturers and demonstrators, and 12,000 employees.
Primary Function: Education in nuclear physics and reactor design
Description: Ain Shams University offers courses in general physics, chemistry, and science.
Name: University of Alexandria
Other Names: Alexandria University
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: 18 faculties and numerous departments
Primary Function: Education in natural sciences
Description: This university contains faculties of Science and Engineering. The faculty of science offers degrees in applied and nuclear physics. The faculty of engineering offers degrees in chemical engineering.
Name: The American University in Cairo
Other Names: n/a
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: n/a
Primary Function: Education in Physics
Description: The Physics Department houses an "Advanced Nuclear Laboratory." It is part of an overall program to offer theoretical and applied physics courses. Nuclear physics courses are offered and required for undergraduate and graduate work.
Name: Assiut University
Other Names: /na
Location: Assiut, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: n/a
Primary Function: Education in nuclear-related disciplines
Description: Assuit has two related faculties, Engineering and Science. Within the faculty of Engineering, the mining department has practical education in mining technologies. The faculty of Science comprises both the physics and chemistry departments. Both of these departments have laboratories that offer training in nuclear-related analysis.
Name: Cairo University
Other Names: n/a
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: n/a
Primary Function: n/a
Description: This institution operates several relevant divisions, including the faculty of engineering and Physics department. The Mechanical Power Engineering Department offers related courses including, nuclear power plant operations and nuclear physics. In addition, Cairo University operates the National Institute for Laser Sciences and Applications. This institute focuses on Medical applications for Laser sciences.
Name: Mansoura University
Other Names: n/a
Location: Mansoura, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education
Size: The university campus covers about 300 acres.
Primary Function: Education in Nuclear Physics
Description: This university is considered number six in order of establishment among the universities in Egypt. It is composed of the faculties of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, agriculture, commerce, law, science, education, nursing, and computer & information. Within the university, the Nuclear Physics and Environmental Radioactivity Measurements Research Group focuses on all manners of nuclear physics and environmental radioactivity studies.
Name: Tanta University
Other Names: n/a
Location: Tanta, Egypt
Subordinate To: Ministry of Higher Education.
Size: n/a
Primary Function: Education in Physics
Description: Tanta University is composed of the departments of electrical, mechanical, physics, and civil engineering. The Department of Physics conducts research in theoretical physics, solid state physics, nuclear radiation physics, lasers physics, plasma physics, nuclear physics, electronics, bio-physics and solar energy physics. The department conducts joint research with institutes throughout Europe, Japan, the United States, and other Middle Eastern countries.
Key Sources:
"Nuclear Research Center," Egyptian Atomic Energy Agency (AEA), <http://www.frcu.eun.eg/www/homepage/aea/cent1.htm>; IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects: EGY/0/005 Accelerator Modernization and Use; EGY/0/006 Accelerator Feasibility Study; EGY/0/010 Variable energy cyclotron laboratory; EGY/0/013 Utilization of a cyclotron facility; and EGY/2/009 Use of Inchas Cyclotron Facility 2003," IAEA TechWeb Country Project Database, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/
projectsbycountry/query/default.asp>; Mohammad El-Sayed Selim, "Egypt And The Middle East Nuclear Issue," Strategic Analysis, January 1996, pp. 1381-1398; Institute of Nuclear Physics or Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, "Abstracts - The Third International Conference: Modern Problems of Nuclear Physics"; Comsan, M. N. H., Design Features of Inchas Cyclotron, Bukhara, 23-27 August 1999, p. 176; Barbara M. Gregory, "Egypt's Nuclear Program: Assessing Supplier-Based and Other Developmental Constraints," Nonproliferation Review, Fall 1995, Volume 3, Number 1, <http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/npr/vol03/31/gregor31.pdf>; Khatab, Dimitri, and Shaat, "Experience Gained in Refurbishing of the ETT-RR-1 Research Reactor in Egypt," Second Arab Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, 5-9 November 1994; IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects: EGY/1/022 Upgrading of Research Reactor Utilization; and "IAEA Technical Cooperation Project EGY/4/042 Quality Assurance for Nuclear Power Plant Authority," IAEA TechWeb Country Project Database, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/
projectsbycountry/query/default.asp>; ETRR-2 Description/Atomic Energy Authority AEA, <http://www.frcu.eun.eg/www/homepage/aea/mpr.htm>; INVAP/ETRR-2 Manufacturers Description, <http://www.invap.net/nuclear/etrr-2/intro-e.html>; "Egypt's Budding Nuclear Program," The Risk Report, Volume 2, Number 5 (September-October 1996); AEA/NCRRT, <http://www.frcu.eun.eg/www/homepage/aea/cent2.htm>; AEA/HLWMC, <http://www.frcu.eun.eg/www/homepage/aea/cent3.htm>.
Ain Shams University, <http://www.shams.eun.eg/>; American University in Cairo Online Catalog, 2003, <http://catalog.aucegypt.edu/undergrad/fields/phys/phys.html>; Assiut University, <http://www.aun.eun.eg/fac.htm>; National Institute for Laser Sciences and Applications, Cairo University, Egypt, <http://www.cairo.eun.eg/general-info/facts/campus/laser.htm>; Mansoura University, <http://www.mans.edu.eg/english/default.htm>; Tanta University, <http://dec1.tanta.eun.eg/>.
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 © 2008
by MIIS.
