Special Report:
Iran Nuclear
Crisis
MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- 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 Dec. 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."
Iran receives 7th shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia
TEHRAN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran has received the seventh shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Saturday for it's first nuclear power plant being built at the Gulf port of Bushehr, the official IRNA reported.
The new consignment contained 11 tons of enriched uranium, Iran Atomic Energy Production and Development Company, was quoted as saying by the report. Full story
