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A multidisciplinary UNMOVIC team carried out an inspection of the Samoud Scrap Yard site, located approximately 54 km northwest of Baghdad in the area of Tarmiya. The site belongs to the Samoud Company. The scrap in the site is sent to the Al Samoud factory to be reprocessed into steel in its heavy foundry. A multidisciplinary team of chemists, toxicologists and missile experts inspected all areas of the site.
An UNMOVIC chemical team inspected two sites: the Research and Analytical Centre for Pesticides, located approximately 20 km northwest of Baghdad, and the Al Furat State Establishment for Chemical Industry (Al Furat SF), located approximately 80 km south-southwest of Baghdad. The first site, which used to be part of the Tariq State Company, was moved in 2001 to Falluja III and merged with the Quality Control Department there. Al Furat SE is a declared and previously monitored site. The main objective of this inspection was to update information about the site and verify data provided in the last semi-annual declaration.
An UNMOVIC biological team inspected the Samra Drug Industry (SDI), located 140 km northwest of Bahgdad, which is a pharmaceutical company owned by the Ministry of Industries and Minerals. The site is a large complex with over 50 structures, which produces a wide-range of pharmaceutical products. The UNMOVIC team, which consisted of 23 inspectors, inspected the whole site and confirmed all the tags and inventories and discussed site activities and declarations with the site representatives.
One UNMOVIC team of missile inspectors inspected the Al Qa Qaa double base propellant plant. The inspection was part of the ongoing monitoring of Iraqi missile propellant capability, including the propellant for the Arabil 50. Over 40 buildings were inspected during the four-hour inspection.
Another UNMOVIC missile team inspected the Al-Fedaa Hydraulic Plant, located approximately 25 km west of Baghdad. The plant is actively engaged in the manufacture of missile and rocket launchers as well as the refurbishment of tank tansporters. In addition, the plant produces a wide range of parts for hydraulic systems.
IAEA teams went in two directions today. The first team inspected two factories. The first site was the 14 Ramadan Factory, declared to be a wool and textile facility. The second was the Binwalid Factory, which manufactures metal goods and contains a number of high-quality machine tools.
The second team travelled to the South Taji area. There are a number of factories in this area. One group inspected the Al Raya State Company. This company is a materials science centre engaged in research on metals, ceramics, and plastics for Iraqi industry. The second company, Al Zahef Al Kabeer, is engaged in a number of metal and plastic production jobs, such as recycling valuable scrap and producing waterproofing coatings.
There will be a press briefing at the Canal Hotel on Sunday, 22 December, at 6:00 p.m.
Hiro Ueki
Spokesman for UNMOVIC and the IAEA in Baghdad