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Russia, Iran to sign protocol on return of spent nuclear fuel

IRNA

Moscow, Aug 30, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Russia is ready to sign a 
protocol on the return of spent nuclear fuel with Iran, Deputy 
Nuclear Energy Minister Valery Govorukhin said. 
He told Itar-Tass on Friday that a respective order "already has 
been given to the Nuclear Energy Ministry by the Russian government". 
Govorukhin said the "signing of the document could take place in 
the first decade of this year`s September in Moscow if the Iranian 
side is ready for that". 
The protocol will allow moving into a practical plan of solving of
the matter of delivery of Russian nuclear fuel for the first loading 
of first energy unit at the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, he said. 
He explained that "fuel must be delivered to Iran not later than 
six months before the launch of the reactor". 
"The construction of the first energy unit is being conducted 
according to the planned timetable and must be completed next year". 
Govorukhin said Iran had informed the Russian Nuclear Energy 
Ministry "about full readiness to receive fresh nuclear fuel from 
Russia". 
A special fuel pond has been built in Iran, whose specialists 
assured that it is "equipped with all necessary control and 
safeguarding systems in conformity with requirements of the IAEA", or 
the International Atomic Energy Agency. 
An official of the Iranian embassy in Moscow told Itar-Tass that 
Tehran is being prepared for signing the protocol soon, but the 
"time of signing and the level of Iran`s representative who will put 
his signature under the document have not been determined as yet". 
/SF/210 
End