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The OPAL reactor in Lucas Heights initiates its reaction via a neutron source or gun. The fuel elements themselves which I think are 20% enriched dont spontaneously produce a chain reaction, as mentioned before this is a fission bomb.
In OPAL, the reactor is shut down every month or so for maintenance and fuel movement but the neutron gun will not be needed to restart the reaction due to secondary neutrons being present from the previous run which will suffice to initiate the reaction again.
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