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Iran activating atomic plant

DUBAI: Iran has said it will begin preliminary operations on Wednesday of its Russia-aided atomic power plant in the coastal city of Bushehr.

The spokesman of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEO), Mohsen Delaviz, announced on Sunday that “pre-commissioning” of the Bushehr facility would take place in the presence of head of Russia’s Rosatom Atomic Corporation, Sergey Kiriyenko. Mr. Delaviz did not elaborate on what exactly would pre-commissioning involve. He, however, said Wednesday’s ceremony would be an important step towards the facility’s formal launch later.

Russia took over the construction of the 1,000-MW Bushehr plant after Germany abandoned the project, following the technology blockade imposed on Tehran by the U.S. According to RIA Novosti, Germany first took up construction of the plant in 1975.

Iran’s Press TV is reporting that Iranian technicians are also engaged in designing a second nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, located in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan.

Iran is focusing on high-technology development as witnessed recently in the launch of its satellite using an indigenously developed rocket.

It has also not suspended low-grade enrichment of uranium at its facility in Natanz.

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