A ceremony to mark the launch of the first unit of Irans first nuclear plant at Bushehr will take place today in the presence of the Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and the head of Russia's Federal Agency for Atomic Energy, Sergei Kiriyenko. Bushehr was connected into the national grid early on Sunday. The first unit's capacity is estimated at 1,000 megawatt. The work in Bushehr has been going on for several decades, but was eventually completed with the help of Russian expertise.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already included Bushehr's first unit into its list of operating nuclear power plants. The IAEA record says the plant was first connected to the grid on September 3. Russia will operate the plant, supply its fuel and take away all the spent fuel for the next two or three years, but will eventually hand over full control to Iran.
A further two reactors of the same type are planned.
Iran's nuclear programme has been the cause of great concern to neighbouring countries and to the US and Europe who fear that Iran's civilian nuclear programme is a cover for a military programme aimed at turning the Islamic Republic into a nuclear armed power.
source: commonspace.eu newsroom
photo: A model of the Nuclear Power Plant at Bushehr
