BUSHEHR, Iran, Aug 21, (AFP) -Iran said on Saturday it has started loading fuel into its Russian-built first nuclear power plant, in the face of stiff opposition from world powers to its controversial atomic programme.
After more than three decades of delay, engineers finally began loading the Russia-supplied fuel into the plant in the southern port of Bushehr, in the presence of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, a statement by Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said.
“Today is a great day and we have entered the physical launch of the Bushehr plant,” Fars new agency quoted Sergei Kiriyenko, the chief of Russian atomic agency, Rosatom, as telling reporters when the fuel transfer began..
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| A general view shows the reactor building at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 1200 kms south of Tehran. AFP . |
“It is an important event and we announce that Russia carried out all its commitments as to the commissioning of the Bushehr power plant ... We are pleased with the commissioning of the plant considering the 36-year wait.”Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said it was a “memorable” day for the plant, given its history of “ups and downs.”
”We thank Mr Kiriyenko, the Russian government and the (Russian) nation for accompanying the Iranian nation. The Russians have immortalised their names in Iran's history.”Last week, Salehi said the entire transfer of fuel into the reactor would be complete by September 5.
On Friday, Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation spokesman Ali Shirzadian said the one-billion-dollar plant's actual commissioning would come in October or November when the electricity it generates connects to the national grid.
The much-anticipated launch comes despite the fact that Moscow, a long-time nuclear ally, has hardened its position on Tehran's nuclear programme.
In June, Russia backed a fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran over its uranium enrichment, the most controversial part of its atomic programme and which the West believes is aimed at making nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran strongly denies.
Iran says it is enriching uranium to power nuclear reactors so it can eventually generate electricity of around 20,000 megawatts.
Despite being OPEC's second-largest crude oil exporter and having the world's second largest gas reserves, Iran insists it needs nuclear power for when its fossil fuels eventually run out. |
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