Valindaba

Coordinates: 25°47′59″S 27°56′36″E / 25.79972°S 27.94333°E / -25.79972; 27.94333 The Valindaba site, also known as Pelindaba East or Y-plant,[1] was an experimental uranium enrichment plant, located 35 km west of Pretoria, Gauteng province, South Africa. Valindaba is a Zulu word that means "about this we do not speak at all".[2] The plant's name is consistent with South African government's policy of official secrecy that concealed the plant's role in nuclear weapons production.[3]

History

Y-Plant was completed in 1975 by the Uranium Enrichment Corporation of South Africa (UCOR) and started producing HEU in 1978.[4] During the 1970s, it was speculated that Valindaba may have supported the production of nuclear weapons.[5]

It was shut down for almost two years following an accident in 1979, but was back in production by 1981 and since that time produced all the fuel required by SAFARI-1.[4]

Y-Plant ceased production on 1 February 1991 and was dismantled the same year.[6]

In 1992, it was revealed that the plant had enriched uranium for the production of nuclear weapons.[3]

The plant used the Helikon vortex separation process, a process developed in South Africa, to accumulate the uranium 235 isotope.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Valindaba / Pelindaba East". Retrieved 2006-09-05.
  2. ↑ "South Africa shops for uranium enrichment partners (1975)". Playground Daily News. 1975-06-12. p. 37. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  3. 1 2 "Abandoned nuclear plant opened (1992)". The Titusville Herald. 1992-04-17. p. 7. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  4. 1 2 Cochran, Thomas B. (1993-10-13). "High-Enriched Uranium Production for South African Nuclear Weapons" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 4 (2): 6. doi:10.1080/08929889408426398.
  5. ↑ "USA considers atomic fuel trade with South Africa (1978)". The Eagle. 1978-07-02. p. 18. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  6. ↑ Cochran, Thomas B. (1993-10-13). "High-Enriched Uranium Production for South African Nuclear Weapons" (PDF). Science and Global Security. 4 (2): 7. doi:10.1080/08929889408426398.


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