Iran to launch first nuclear power plant

[oberliner]

Source: AFP

TEHRAN — Iran's atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi on Friday confirmed next week's launch of the Islamic republic's first nuclear power plant, as announced by Russia which has helped build the facility.

"We are preparing to transfer the fuel inside the plant next week... Then we will need seven to eight days to transfer it to the reactor," said Salehi.

Ending years of delays, a spokesman for the Russian atomic agency said on Friday that the plant in the southern Iranian city of Bushehr will formally launch on August 21.

"The fuel will be charged in the reactor on August 21. From this moment, Bushehr will be considered a nuclear installation," Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov said. "This can be considered as the physical launch."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ilXp9pmTRQYyVgPdb1kmIDiH1LFg

[Ian David]

1. A country that still stones women for adultery has a nuke plant. What could go wrong? n/t

[hayu_lol]

2. "If Allah Wills"...

will be the slipshod safety slogan for this plant. Technically, those folks are a bit careless with anything that requires careful handling...a fatalistic approach to life far different from our own. Lets hope that the local Mullahs don't have control of these plants.

[Ian David]

3. I have a feeling the Russians are following the blueprint from Asimov's Foundation series.

They help the Iranians build the powerplant and then supply the specialized technicians to run it. That way, they more control over the Iranian government. "You do not like trade deal? We bring our nuclear technicians home."

[Pavulon]

4. bingo.(nt)

[Poll_Blind]

5. Russia to start up Iran reactor (8 days)

Source: Aljazeera

Russia has announced it will begin loading fuel into Iran's first nuclear power plant next week, a key step in launching the highly sensitive project after years of delays.

The power plant, built by Russia in the Iranian southern city of Bushehr, will be loaded with uranium-packed fuel rods after nearly 40 years of delays, a spokesman for Rosatom, the Russian atomic agency, said on Friday.

"The fuel will be charged in the reactor on August 21. From this moment, Bushehr will be considered a nuclear installation. This will be an irreversible step," Sergei Novikov told the AFP news agency.

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head Iran's atomic energy organisation, said: "We are preparing to transfer the fuel inside the plant next week ... Then we will need seven to eight days to transfer it to the core of the reactor."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/08/2010813145028423645.html

---

:popcorn: