INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
OTHER FOREIGN ACTIVITIES
DELETED.
~ Brazil (UNCLASSIFIED), The first radjoisotope produced in South America (180 millt-
curies
of
iodine 131) was presented to officials of the University of Minas Gerais at ceremonies held in August in Sao Paulo. The radio!sotope was produced in the 5,000-kilowatt pool-
type Sao Paulo research reactor, which went into operation in January 1958.
An agree-nent for cooperation for the peaceful uses of atomic energy was signed by Brazil
and Italy on September 6. This agreement provides for the following, insofar as the domestic
legislation ard international commitments of both’ parties permit:
1. Exchange of unclassified technical {nformation,
2. Reciprocal assistance in research,
3. Exchange of scientists and technicians for teaching and observation purposes,
12
4. Collaboration of Italian personnel in prospecting for uranium and thorium in
Brazil, end
5. Evenhial arrangements for Italian processing, for Brazil, of Brazilian atomic
minerals...
:
.
wor
o
The agreement, which will be effectivefor 3 years and renewable automatically for like
periods, is ezccompanied by a letter in which the limitations placed onItaly’ 5 actions by its
treaty obligeiion to Euratom are explained and acknowledged.
Canada, Following the May 24 accident, decontamination of the National Research Universal
(NRU} reactor building was carried out, and NRU was brought back into operation
August 15 at an initial power level of 100 kilowatts. The reactor was operated in the 1,000- to
2,000-kilowe7t range while the fuel elements of the drawn sheath type were being replaced by
elements of zhe bonded sheath (extrusion clad) type. The refueling took place at a rate af five
to six elemexts a day and was completed by the end of Sepiember. Full-power operation was
scheduled for October. NRU is the world’s largest research and testing reactor, with 2 design
power level c= 200,000 kilowatts.
DOEARcuiyng
The Naticnal Research Experimental (NRX) reactor resumed operation August 8, after
having been shut down since July 17 because of an accidental spill of irradiated cobalt pelets.
Atomic Znergy of Canada Limited (AECL), expressed interest in leasing heavy water
ost
ant
gned
from the Urized States in accordance with the new AEC policy. AECL needs about 30-35 tons
for the proje= ted ZEEP-II reactor at Chalk River and apparently feels it would be advantageous
to lease the teavy water, rather than to purchase it. ZEEP-D is to be built for the purpose of
studying lattice arrangements for large power reactors and will have served its major purpose
within 5 years after its completion.