subject: Iran Starts Fuel Loading In The Middle Of The First Nuclear Power Plant [print this page] Iran Starts Fuel Loading In The Middle Of The First Nuclear Power Plant
Iran began loading fuel in the heart of its first nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr, said Tuesday the state media.
"The Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and programs are underway as planned," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast reporters.
The Bushehr nuclear plant is one of the major projects in Iran, which will help produce alternative forms of energy "he said. Tehran says the electricity produced by this plant will add to the national energy supply.The U.S. and other world powers fear Iran is developing a military nuclear program.
Iran has denied those accusations and says that the plant will be used to generate electricity. "The political pressures such as sanctions and other pressures, not impede our progress in developing and maintaining our nation not to exercise their inalienable rights to peaceful use of nuclear technology," which said Mehmanparast .
"We will continue the long-term plans in this regard," he added.The Bushehr opened in late August, when engineers downloaded 163 fuel rods in the reactor, under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency. It is expected to generate 1000 megawatts of electricity, when all the fuel rods loaded kernel reactor.
The construction of Bushehr began in 1975 when Germany signed an agreement with Iran. Germany, however, withdrew from the project after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran signed an agreement with Russia, then in 1995, according to which the plant was originally scheduled to be completed in 1999, but the project has repeatedly delayed.
The reactor was launched in August in the midst of the situation deadlock with the United States and its allies into allegations that the Islamic Republic is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
