Iran to fire up its new n-plant
Tehran, Aug. 20: Iran’s first nuclear power station will be loaded with fuel on Saturday, a showcase for Tehran’s claim that its atomic ambitions are purely peaceful. Experts say firing up the $1-billion Bushehr plant will not take Iran any closer to building a nuclear bomb as Russia will supply the enriched uranium for the reactor and take away spent fuel rods which could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium.
After decades of delays, the event is a milestone in Iran’s path to harness technology which it says will reduce consumption of its abundant fossil fuels, allowing it to export more oil and gas and to prepare for the day when the minerals riches dry up.
“It is a big day. Iran has been waiting for it for years. Bushehr has seen the start up postponed so many times that Iranians will breath a sigh of relief,” said Mr Mark Fitzpatrick of London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Western nations question why Iran wants to enrich uranium itself when, as Bushehr shows, it does not need it for power stations.
Diplomats say the Bushehr plant, monitored by the UN, poses little proliferation risk and has no link with Iran’s secretive uranium enrichment programme.
Meanwhile, Iran’s defence minister says military forces have successfully test-fired a missile with enhanced guidance systems to hit ground targets.
Gen. Ahmad Vahidi did not say when or where the test was carried out. Gen. Vahidi told worshippers ahead of Friday prayers at Tehran University that the liquid-fueled missile — named Qiam-1 — has an improved targeting system to strike with higher precision. His speech was broadcast live on state radio without specific details.
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