Here’s something a bit different in the power generation news world: a dispute about carbon fiber, and its role in building nuclear facilities.
This piece in Front Page Magazine traces the connections between China and Iran and the latter country’s efforts to gain nuclear weaponry. The United Nations has recently issued a report stating that the two countries frequently trade “prohibited ballistic missile related items.” Even worse, Iran is just weeks away from opening a nuclear power plant, the Bushehr plant, which is capable of creating nuclear weapons.One of the most salient things that Iran is importing is carbon fiber. Carbon fiber can be used in nuclear reactors due to its robust physical characteristics. Robert Einhorn, of the US State Department, claims that China is sending a lot of carbon fiber Iran’s way. According to the UN, there are over 200 companies set up to sell Iran materials for its nuclear efforts.
We’ll see if the United States or any other UN nations take action to prevent Iran from gathering carbon fiber and other materials for its nuclear enrichment projects. The Chinese ambassador to the UN claims to support the organization’s efforts at keeping nuclear weapons from Iran, but the country will have to put its money where its mouth is.
