ISIS Update on Khushab Reactor

Update on the Construction of the New, Large Khushab Reactor
David Albright and Paul Brannan, October 4, 2006.

Since the July 2006 release of our report on the construction of a new reactor at the Khushab site in Pakistan, many have contributed to a discussion of the size and power of the new reactor. Dr. Thomas B. Cochran of the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report in which he argues that the new reactor will operate at a power level consistent with Bush administration claims of between 40-100 MWth--the same power level as the first Khushab reactor. ISIS continues to believe that the imagery depicts the construction of a reactor capable of far more powerful operation.

We will continue to follow this reactor closely because we do not believe this issue of its power is settled. Our concern is especially great in this case because both countries hid the construction of this reactor from the public. To facilitate the dicussion of this imporant, and potentially destabilizing reactor, the US and Pakistani governments should be forthcoming with information substantiating their claims about the size of the second Khushab reactor, including its potential to be scaled upward in capacity once built.

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