The Libyan Atomic Energy Commission (LEAC) said a fire that broke out in an outbuilding at the Tajoura Nuclear Research Centre (TNRC) was under control. LEAC said in a brief statement that the fire broke out in a hangar and was far from any of the key buildings of the facility. Eyewitnesses complained on social media about the delay in the arrival of fire trucks belonging to the National Safety Authority (NSA) to the fire site. NSA said the fire caused material damage of some stored goods, without any casualties.
The TNRC is located about 30 km east of Tripoli adjacent to the main highway. Construction began in 1979 with Russian assistance and comprised a 10 MWt pool type research reactor (IRT-1), moderated and cooled by light water reactor, which achieved criticality in 1981, and a critical assembly. The TNRC also included hot cells, a neutron generator, and an instrumental analysis laboratory designed for performing activation analysis. The KP-2 hot cell is designed for cutting radioactive products for long periods and checking fuel assemblies after they are suspended. It is equipped with a grinding machine, a crane, and a mechanical screwdriver.
The reactor used high enrichment fuel from 1983 to 2006, after which it was converted to use low-enriched fuel (around 19.5% enrichment). In 2013, the reactor was shut following the bombing of Libya by NATO and is now awaiting decommissioning.
Image: The fire started in an outbuilding at the Tajoura Nuclear Research Centre
