performance of the sixth pile (C pile), which atarted ap in November
1982, are expented to raise 1953 production ef plutonium 13 percent
above the oetinate of six monthe ago.
Construction of plutonium fecilities,
heavy water reactors and releted fac
On Hay 31, 1993, the five
6 at Savannah River were 60
Pereent complete. Following several weeks of precparationel testing,
production operation of the first reactor is expected to begin in
_
September, All. five Sevanneh River reactors are acheioled to be com
pleted by Jamary 1, 1955,
Construction of the juabo-gine seventh and eighth Hanford grephite
reactors wan 13 percent commlete on Hay Jl. Theae are acheduied to be .
completed in Cotoher 1954 and Aprfl, 1955.
Gaseoun-diffuston operations; The sharprlee now occurring in
the output of weapon-level U 2495 at ‘Osk Ridge is based on the suecesgive
start-up of new unite at Paducah, beginning last November and eontimaiog
rougheut 1953,
Operating effietency of the planta bas been maintained
ata high Level, despite occasional equipuent failures associated vith
the startewp of new Plante ami with continuing efforts to increase oper~
ating pressures to the highest praetioable limits,
Construstionofurania235 feelitites,
tve Fedueah plants
“O percent complete
Hay 31, The sdditional,
gearous diffusion plants authorized is the 3982 expansion prearam are
all under construction end anbeduled to be completed In 1955 and 1956, |
On May 31 the two additional plants at Peduesh were 6 percent complete,
the efditéienal plant at Oak Ridge was § pereent complete, and the new
plant at Portemuth waa 1 percent complete,
Feed
mate
1,
Stonks of urenlua feed materials prepared from
fallen below the levele of recent years (cee Chart I%-C, p. 25).
Operation of groving Plant caparity bas been made possible by the recor-
ery at Hanford of lerge tonneges of uranium depleted in the uranium 235
deotope. Only depleted uranium ia now fed to the gaseous diffusion casesdes, A121 uranium of soreal isotopic content t8 required as metal feed
for the grotuction of plrtonius 4p the Hanfordend SavanahRiver reactors,
1:
2"
The ADP plant at
Oak Ridge Ta scheduled to togin aeoduetee Withiom 6 during the svar,
Production schedules ere almed at meeting the requirements of the thersin-
nuclear weapon tests next spring,
Tritiuna ie being produced oa a by~
product of reguler Hanford operstions, and the excess neutrons from
Savennsh River reactors wil] te similerly used, Largerquentitics of
tritium will te produned as necasgery by use of opecial, reactor loedings
whieh lovolve a seerifies of plutonium production, The special loading
of one Hanford reactor vas 4 ApralL. 04