Iran opens Bushehr nuclear plant
Iran put the Bushehr nuclear power plant into operation a few
days ago, RIA Novosti reported with reference to Head of Iranian
Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani said.
"Bushehr nuclear power plant needed some technical inspection and
testing, and we carried out them a couple of months ago. Three days
ago, Bushehr nuclear power plant was put into operation at the
capacity of 1,000 megawatts. And, fortunately, I have not been
reported regarding any failures in its work," he said.
Tehran repeatedly has rejected safety concerns about the reactor,
which began operations in 2011 after decades of delays. Iran and
the Russian company that built Bushehr said it was not affected by
the April earthquake.
Earlier this month Iran reported Bushehr nuclear power plant having
some technical problems with its generator, however it was noted
that there was "absolutely no link" between this problem at the
Bushehr plant - which was shut down when U.N. nuclear inspectors
went there in mid-May - and a powerful earthquake that shook the
region two months ago.
Construction of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr was started in
1974 by the German Kraftwerk Union AG (Siemens / KWU) concern.
In August 1992, an agreement was signed between the Governments of
Russia and Iran on the construction of a nuclear power plant, and
in January 1995 a contract was signed in order to complete the
construction of the first power unit of the plant.
Physical start of Bushehr nuclear plant began under the control of
the IAEA on August 21, 2010, when the delivery of the nuclear fuel
to the reactor compartment station was carried out.
In May 2011, the works on bringing the nuclear steam generating
plant to the minimum controlled level of power were carried out on
the power unit.
The West suspects Iran is seeking the capability to develop nuclear
weapons behind the facade of an atomic energy programme.
However, Iran says its nuclear programme is a peaceful bid to
generate electricity and to produce medical isotopes.