[Hamiltonian]

The Iran deal promoters also engineered a heavy water purchase from Iran for the Oak Ridge facility. Turns out the U.S. hasn't had the capability to produce heavy water since 1996.

ORNL's neutron source gets an upgrade, thanks to heavy water bought from Iran

April 25, 2018

.......The United States uses heavy water for nuclear research and weapons production. Dwindling supplies and an uncertain international market have made it an even hotter commodity

The Department of Energy's last heavy water procurement came through a controversial Obama-era deal to get Iran back into compliance with a 2015 agreement it made with world powers to stop pursuing nuclear weapons.

In return, DOE received a shipment of 600 beer kegs filled with heavy water, totaling 32 metric tons.....

....The United States has not been able to produce heavy water since 1996, and the National Nuclear Security Administration has said resuming production will be costly and take at least 10 years of lead time.....

At one point, Canada was a reliable supplier. But, DOE terminated a procurement process with the country when the Obama administration's interest in maintaining a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran afforded DOE an alternative route....

[philman_36]

Watch the water.