IAEA Media Advisory

Media Advisory 2002/2512 (25 December 2002)

News Update on Iraq Inspections

UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq. 25 December 2002

For full coverage, see the pages on IAEA and Iraq.

25 December 2002 -- An UNMOVIC biological team inspected the "Al Taji Single Cell Protein (SCP) Plant", located 23 km northwest of Baghdad and within a liquid propane gas (LPG)-filling company. The name "SCP Plant" no longer exists. The plant used to be one building, which has now been remodeled for use by the LPG-filling company.

An UNMOVIC missile team inventoried storage buildings at the Al Kadhimiya Plant and at Shumouk Stores, located approximately 30 km north of Baghdad.

An UNMOVIC chemical team inspected the Basra State Establishment for Paper Industry in the Basra region.

The IAEA visited three sites. It inspected the Hatteen Fateh Explosives Factory south of Mussayib. This is a very large complex that produces explosives for military bombs, shells and rockets. The team focused attention on changes at the site in the last four years that could aid a nuclear programme. The team also inspected the Um Al Maarik Factory in part in an ongoing attempt to monitor the production of indigenous components of possible dual use. The Um Al Maarik is a large factory that produces metal parts for military programmes.

In a cooperative venture, the IAEA team joined with Iraqi auditors at the Al Qa Qaa explosives plant. They together made item counts of important dual-use materials and compared results. Hundreds of items were counted. The results will be used as part of a verification of Iraq's use of special metals.

Hiro Ueki,
Spokesman for UNMOVIC and the IAEA in Baghdad

About the IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.

Press Contacts

Marc Vidricaire
Director and Spokesperson
Division of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21270
m.vidricaire@iaea.org

Melissa Fleming
Head of Media & Outreach/Spokesperson
Div. of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21275
[43] 699-165-21275 (mobile)
m.fleming@iaea.org

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the IAEA's Press Section, or call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.