Iran’s first nuclear power plant, being built by Russia in the southern city of Bushehr, will formally launch next week, a spokesman for 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,” Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov said. “This can be considered as the physical lau-nch,” he added.
Officials said the launch would be marked at a ceremony in Bushehr including the head of Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko. Russia has been helping Iran build the plant since the mid-90s but its involvement has been marred by delays and the issue is delicate amid the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme. —AFP