Iran, Russia perform initial test of joint nuclear plant (1st Lead)

Feb 25, 2009, 9:40 GMT

   Tehran - Iran and Russia on Wednesday performed what they called an initial test of their jointly built nuclear power plant at the port city Bushehr in southern Iran, the news network Khabar reported.

   Russia's nuclear energy chief Sergei Kiriyenko and his Iranian counterpart Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh witnessed the test of the light-water reactor which was effected with 'virtual fuel' as Bushehr's nuclear fuel remains under International Atomic Energy Agency seals.

   Lead was used instead of uranium in the fuel rods, officials in Bushehr said.

   'With the accomplishment of the test, we can already talk about the completion of the plant and put an end to all political speculation,' Aqazadeh, who is vice-president and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said.

   He was referring to speculation that Russia had intentionally delayed the completion of the Bushehr plant due to political considerations and Western concerns.

   'The plant will be become operational within a few months,' Aqazdeh said.

   Tehran had become sceptical of Russian promises to complete the plant as the joint project was originally scheduled to be completed at the beginning of the millennium, but has been delayed at least five times for various reasons, including political considerations.

   The deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Saeidi, told the Khabar news network that the test was for removing any errors prior to the main test which would then be effected with real uranium.

   'We have received 87 tons of low-enriched uranium from Russia which we will then use within three parts, each part sufficient for one year,' Saeidi said.

   Kiriyenko called the test an important step before launching the 1,000-megawatt plant later this year, intended to correct technical errors prior to the main launch.

   Russia's nuclear energy chief arrived in Tehran earlier Wednesday and flew immediately to Bushehr to inspect the progress of the joint nuclear power.

   Kiriyenko and Aqazadeh planned a press conference later Wednesday to elaborate the test results and latest developments in the plant, located 15 kilometres from Bushehr.

   Despite concern in the West over Iran's nuclear programmes, the light-water project in Bushehr is tolerated due to Russia's involvement and guarantees that nuclear fuel for the plant will be delivered from and nuclear waste returned to Russia.

   Iran says that its nuclear projects are just for civilian purposes while the West is concerned that Iran is clandestinely pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.