Other Names: n/a
Location: Nuclear Medicine Centre, Damascus
Subordinate To: AECS
Size: n/a
Primary Function: Production of short-lived radiopharmaceuticals
Description: In 1996, AECS requested assistance from the IAEA for the construction of a cyclotron facility for its Nuclear Medicine Centre in Damascus. The IAEA approved the project and initiated construction of the cyclotron facility in 1997. The facility would be used for the production of radioisotopes for medical purposes.[1] The Cyclon-30 cyclotron was provided by Belgium’s Ion Beam Applications.[2] Ion Beam Applications also supplied a cyclotron of the same model to Karaj center in Iran. Analysts suspect that Iran might be using the cyclotron to conduct enrichment research.[3]

Syria's Nuclear Medical Centre in Damascus was built in 1972 and treats over 100,000 patients every year.

The project timeframe is as follows: (1) cyclotron order and facility design (1996-97); (2) building construction and acceptance (1997-99); (3) hot cell equipment order and installation (1997-99); (4) cyclotron installation (1998-99).[4] The project is ongoing.

Sources:
[1] "SYR/4/007: Cyclotron Facility for Medical Radioisotopes," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1997, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/query/default.asp>.
[2] "Customer References," IBA website, accessed on 25 May 2003, <http://www.iba-ri.com/>.
[3] Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Iran's Nuclear Program: Myth and Reality," The Middle East Data Project, Inc., 1995, <http://www.uspid.dsi.unimi.it/proceed/cast95/ItalyIran.html>.
[4] "SYR/4/007: Cyclotron Facility for Medical Radioisotopes," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1997, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/query/default.asp>.

	Updated August 2003