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Russia Helps Iran Fuel Up First Nuclear Power Plant

   Jessica Golloher | Moscow 21 August 2010
   Iran's  atomic  chief  Ali  Akbar  Salehi  (L) and head of the Russian
   nuclear   agency  Sergei  Kiriyenko  hold  a  joint  press  conference
   following  a  ceremony initiating the transfer of Russia-supplied fuel
   to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 21 Aug

Photo: AFP

   Iran's  atomic  chief  Ali  Akbar  Salehi  (L) and head of the Russian
   nuclear   agency  Sergei  Kiriyenko  hold  a  joint  press  conference
   following  a  ceremony initiating the transfer of Russia-supplied fuel
   to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 21 Aug 2010

   In  an  irreversible  step, Iran and Russia began putting nuclear fuel
   into  the reactor of Tehran's first atomic power station. On Saturday,
   specialists  from  both countries loaded uranium packed fuel rods into
   the reactor.  Russia helped build the facility.
   Sergei Kiriyenko, the director of Russia's nuclear agency, Rosatom, is
   in  Bushehr  to show Russian support for the opening of the plant amid
   international  fears  that  Iran will use the facility to make nuclear
   weapons.  A charge both Tehran and the Kremlin vehemently deny.
   Kiriyenko  says in Russia's opinion, it's important to work within the
   framework of international law and arrive at peaceful results. He says
   Russia  has  always  stuck  to  its promises, both regarding bilateral
   relations and its assistance in the Bushehr project.
   Earlier  this  year, Washington criticized Russia for going ahead with
   the  planned opening of the plant amid global disagreement and concern
   over Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.
   Moscow  did  however  back a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran,
   which called for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.
   And,  Russian  Foreign  Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Russia's deal
   with  Iran  over  fuel should ease Western fears that Tehran is making
   nuclear  weapons.  Under  the  pact,  Russia  will supply the fuel for
   Bushehr and then take back the spent fuel rods.
   Officials  say it will take about two to three months for the plant to
   start  producing electricity once all of the fuel rods have been moved
   into the reactor. Iranian officials say the production capacity of the
   plant  will initially be 500 megawatts but will eventually increase to
   1,000 megawatts.

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