Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Iran Launches First Nuclear Power Plant Iranian and Russian officials on hand for ceremony at Bushehr VOA News 21 August 2010 Photo: AP Media stand at a gate of the Bushehr nuclear power plant with its reactor building in the background, just outside the city of Bushehr Engineers in Iran began loading fuel into the country's first nuclear power plant Saturday.  The facility is located in the southern city of Bushehr.  Iranian television has shown video of Iranian and Russian officials in white lab coats touring the site during a ceremony marking the start-up of the plant. During the news conference at the site, Iranian atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said it was a "historic day" and thanked Russia for its cooperation. He called the plant a symbol of Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Russia helped build the facility and is providing fuel for the reactor. A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said the Bushehr reactor will be fully loaded with fuel by September 22. He said the plant will initially produce 500 megawatts of electricity but that its production capacity will eventually increase to 1,000 megawatts. Many in the international community suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons although Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. On Friday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov gave assurances that Tehran will not be able to use fuel intended for the plant to create nuclear weapons. Russia's Interfax news agency quotes him as saying his country will deliver the fuel and recycle the waste in accordance with nonproliferation requirements. He gave "total 100 percent guarantees" that the use will be peaceful. Meanwhile, Salehi says the country will continue to enrich uranium to use as nuclear fuel, despite the Russian supply. Salehi told the Iranian news agency IRNA that the country will need more fuel for Bushehr, as well as for future plants. He said Tehran is in the final stages of finding suitable locations for 10 new uranium enrichment facilities. Some information for this report providec by AP, AFP and Reuters. .