Iran Starts Up Nuclear Plant
Created: Feb 25 2009
Related articles: World > Middle East / Africa
STORY:
Iran is a step closer to joining the nuclear club after switching on its Russian-built nuclear reactor for the first time.
Scientists at the Bushehr plant in southern Iran began testing 10 days ago, using substitute fuel rods, loaded with lead instead of enriched uranium to simulate nuclear fuel.
International journalists were invited to observe the trial-run, which Tehran says is for energy but the West fears is a cover for building atomic weapons.
Iranian and Russian nuclear chiefs attended the plant's high-profile inauguration.
Russia is hoping the long-delayed plant will become operational before the end of the year.
The 1000-megawatt plant was originally scheduled to start-up in 2006, but the date keeps being pushed back.
Last year Russia completed delivery of nuclear fuel to the station—a move Washington and Moscow said removed any need for Iran to pursue its own enrichment program.
The Islamic Republic is under U.N. sanctions for refusing to halt its enrichment activities.
Iran says it’s planning to install 50,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium over the next five years at its Natanz plant.
The announcement follows a report by the U.N. nuclear agency watchdog that suggested last week that Iran's nuclear activities had slowed down but that the country had built up a stockpile of nuclear fuel.
