• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russia says engages in Iran's N-plant projects

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

1390/06/22
09-13-2011
10:26:57
News Code :9006-14304

ISNA - Tehran
Service: Nuclear Energy

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said the country would engage in Iran's next nuclear plant development projects.

"Due to the trusts we won during cooperation with our Iranian colleagues, we declare on behalf of Russia that Russia will join power plants' development ventures in Iran and we support them. Talks with Iranian side on the issue have been started since long time ago and were never stopped," he said in the inauguration ceremony of the power plant.

Russian Energy Minister said Bushehr nuclear facility is guaranteed for one year according to international agreements, adding, "The facility needs a year to gain nominal power since the time of launch. It is not based on a schedule, but needs tests before the nuclear installation reaches nominal power."

"There are international demands on Bushehr nuclear plant which should be regarded."

Meanwhile, he continued, "The time of launch of the plant for industrial purposes would be made clear after specified tests were conducted."

Meanwhile, the Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Fereydoon Abbasi said, "We are ready to follow construction of more atomic power plants and we continue interaction with Russia, while keeping dignity and respect."

He added the country would inform the IAEA of site of new nuclear plants after finalizing locations. "We are searching for nuclear sites. We do not conceal anything from the IAEA."

Iranian and Russian officials Monday inaugurated Iran's first nuclear power plant in the southern Persian Gulf port of Bushehr.

The ceremony was attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Abbasi, as well as Shmatko and the Head of Russia's state-run nuclear power corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko.

The plant uses Russian-made fuel and its nuclear waste is to be returned to Russia. This is the first civilian nuclear power plant in the Middle East.

The tests to be conducted in the plant include switching off the plant's reactor several times to carry out additional tests before gradually increasing output to 50, 75 and finally 100 percent of the total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

In 1995, Russia signed a contract to complete the plant but the start-up date was delayed for technical and political reasons.

End Item