Kodak had 'secret nuke reactor' hidden in US research facility for 30 yrs: Report

Washington, May 15 (ANI): Embattled imaging company Kodak had a secret nuclear reactor hidden at a U.S. research facility for over 30 years, according to a report.

The reactor, which contained 1.5kg of enriched 'weapons-grade' uranium, was a Californium Flux Multiplier (CFX) acquired by the company in 1974 and only decommissioned in 2006.

Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy in January, however, claimed that the device was fully licensed and perfectly safe, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"The uranium used in the CFX was highly enriched, but was not easily adaptable to creating a nuclear weapon," company spokesman Christopher Veronda told Fairfax Media.

"This device presented no radiation risk to the public or employees," Veronda added.

According to the paper, the company insists that the device was never a secret, it just wasn't publicised.

The existence of the reactor (though not its location) was even acknowledged in research papers and public documents.

According to the report, while the reactor was not used to generate power and therefore was not at risk of a meltdown, it was still vulnerable to radiation leaks and could have been deadly if it had fallen into the hands of terrorists. (ANI)