Russia completed Monday the delivery of uranium fuel to Iran's
first nuclear power plant, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
The eighth and final batch of Russian nuclear fuel, which is
necessary for the initial stage of operation of the Bushehr nuclear
power plant, was delivered to its construction site, Itar-Tass
quoted the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) as saying.
The shipment of 8.6 metric tons of uranium fuel completed
Russia's promised nuclear fuel deliveries to the Bushehr power
plant, which is located in southwestern Iran.
So far, all fuel necessary for the initial stage as well as all
necessary equipment has been delivered to Iran, the AEOI said in a
communique.
"The total amount of supplies has made up 82 tons of nuclear
fuel enriched to 1.6-3.6 percent (235U)," said the communique.
"Supplies were made with adherence to all safety demands," it
added.
Iranian officials have welcomed the supplies, which they say
contribute "to the deepening of strategic relations between Iran
and Russia," but have warned at the same time that they will not
change the country's bid to enrich uranium itself.
Sergei Shmatko, president of the Russian Atomstroiexport
Company, the general contractor in Bushehr power plant's
construction, told Itar-Tass earlier that Russia intends to
complete the work in the shortest possible time.
"We have settled with the customer all questions and problems
that existed," Shmatko said.
"We have started large-scale launching of work at the Bushehr
station site. We shall hold a visiting meeting of all heads of
contract organizations on the construction site early in February,"
he added.
"The time of completing the Bushehr project is of principal
nature for the customer," Shmatko said. "We shall work to complete
all things at the earliest."
According to Sergei Kirienko, head of the Russian Federal Agency
for Nuclear Power (Rosatom), preparation for the loading of nuclear
fuel into the reactor will start in July or August.
Speaking about the start of the station's operation, Kirienko
said, "There is an agreed schedule."
"There are no unresolved problems in mutual relations.
Therefore, contractors are working with a swing," the Rosatom head
said.
"Russia's stand is the quicker the better, since the station has
a high degree of readiness. The quicker it is put into operation,
the better," Kirienko said.
"We shall do our utmost to complete this work as soon as
possible," he said.
Iran said earlier that the Bushehr nuclear power plant will
begin operating in the summer of 2008, producing half its
1,000-megawatt capacity of electricity.
Iran received the first shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on
December 17 after months of wrangling between the two countries,
apparently over delayed construction payments for the reactor.
The two sides also gave different schedules on the plant's
operating start date.
Iran has said it would put Bushehr power plant into operation at
half capacity in the summer of 2008, but Atomstroiexport said last
December that it would take at least one year to start
operation.
The United States and some of its allies have said Iran may use
the power plant as a civilian cover to develop atomic weapons and
have called on Russia to suspend the Bushehr project.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, has promised that the
fuel will be under the control of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), saying, "All fuel that will be delivered will be
under the control and guarantees of the IAEA for the whole time it
stays on Iranian territory."
(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2008)
